Waiting for Approval of a Family Based Petition for a Green Card

I have one approve letter from immigration 12 years ago and been on the waiting list for a green card that time, All my family members live in California and I’m alone here in my country Mexico, getting the green card is taking a lot of time and it’s very frustrating for me and my family. 12 years of wait and for the look of it, probably it’s going to be another 20 years or more. That’s just not fair to someone trying to do things the right way.

I’m doing everything right, never visit illegally the US, not married and have everything in order. I am just waiting. Is there anything I can do to visit my family occasionally in the US or is there any other way I can complete my waiting time for the green card living with my family in the US? Again I am all alone here, having been for more than 16 years actually and I don’t know anything about immigration any advice you can give me will be really appreciated.

If you've been approved and they haven't actually send it, you can go here:

http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/afte...ace-green-card

You can find an employer to sponsor you for an H1B work visa if you meet the qualifications for that visa category. H1B is a dual intent visa which permits you to have had an immigrant petition filed for you. Visit the USCIS website and review the requirements.

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Quoting pacolactico

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I have one approve letter from immigration 12 years ago and been on the waiting list for a green card that time.

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If we are to infer from that, that a U.S. citizen relative petitioned for your immigration into the United States, but that you're in the F4 preference category, the waiting period is very long. There are many people who have waited longer than you, and their cases will be processed first. You can check the status of applications for your nation and preference category in the Visa Bulletin.

Given the complications of seeking a tourist visa after filing an I-130, which evidences intent to immigrate, if you do wish to obtain a tourist visa while your case remains pending I suggest consulting an immigration lawyer about strategies to get a visa and to obtain entry to the U.S. without being turned back at the border by a USCIS agent who sees your pending case.

It is not unfair that one country enforces its laws. If you have a good job and own property, sufficient to show you will return to Mexico, you might be granted a visitors visa. Make sure to be honest that you have a pending case.

In fact for any of the classes other than spouse of permanent resident (F2A) the waiting list for Mexicans is way longer than 12 years at this point.

Well.

I completely misread the original post. Sorry folks.

Yes and I know that I'm probably not even half the way there. but my case its complicated, the great majority of people have family here in mexico, the waiting its not that difficult that way. my hole family its in California, I'm the only one with out a green card the rest of my family are american citizens all ready. my future is where my family is, its really frustrating...

But well, I thank all of you for you're answers, lets hope that one day things change and law favor the people trying to do things the good way.

Um...I'm an immigrant who did things the legal way.

There is a process. We need a process. It happens when it happens.

You have been advised to look at dual intent work visas. If you do not now qualify, obtain the education and experience needed, and you will be able to live and work in the US until your green card is approved. Employer sponsored green cards are generally a faster path than family sponsored ones from high demand family green card countries.