Unfair Judgment of Sibling Immigration DNA Tests

Increasingly, DNA testing is being recognized as indisputable evidence for

confirming biological relationships, especially in immigrant visa cases. In the
majority of immigration cases where DNA testing is requested, the applicant and
petitioner claim to be related as parent and child. In these situations, USCIS
acknowledges that a 0.00% result is evidence of a non-relationship and 99% or
greater is evidence of a true parent-child biological relationship. This is generally a
fair and acceptable standard as parent-child relationships are first degree, and with
today's DNA technology, it is virtually guaranteed that the result will be either
0.00% or >99.9%.

Not all immigrant visa applicants and petitioners are parents and their children.
Often times siblings apply. However, in these cases, USCIS does not currently take
into account that varying results do not necessarily prove that siblings are not
biologically related. For instance, in a sibling test, the result can be from
<1%>99%. A widely accepted chart (by DNA testing labs) for interpreting ranges
of result probabilities for non-parent/child relationship tests is as follows: 0-5% =
improbable, >5-20% = doubtful, >20-80% = uncertain, >80-95% = indication, 95-
99% = probable, >99% = very probable. So, for instance, if two siblings undergo a
DNA test to prove their biological relationship for immigration purposes, and their
result is 75%, most USCIS offices today will immediately reject the application.
However, it may be an unjust assumption that the two individuals are not
biologically related. In second degree relationship cases, it simply can not be
assumed that a conclusive result will be attained, as is virtually always the case
with parentage DNA tests. The key factor affecting these test results is how much
genetic information is shared between the siblings. It is possible that two full
siblings could inherit exact opposite alleles (forms of a gene) from each of their
parents, which would likely lead to a <1%
href="http://www.800dnaexam.com">DNA test. With that said, however, in most
cases, sibling DNA test results do tend to fall towards, but not reach, perhaps, a
conclusive percentage, as opposed to in the middle. Even so, many siblings who
have even a 90% result are being rejected by USCIS. All because USCIS seems to
hold these individuals to the same standard as parents and their children, in terms
of DNA test results.

Some AABB accredited laboratories receive word from clients that their
applications were denied by USCIS based on their DNA test results. So, at times,
those labs have contacted USCIS to further explain how the results should be
interpreted. It is hoped that, by educating USCIS officials of the nature of these
second-degree DNA tests, they will consider results that may not fall into a
conclusive range. Sometimes, extended testing (of additional genetic markers)
may increase result percentages, and labs will likely suggest that step to their
clients, if they determine that it may be helpful. Also, testing of the siblings'
parent(s) is very likely to increase the result percentage if, in fact, the siblings are
biologically related. If neither of these steps increases the result, or if a parent or
parents is/are not available to test, it is crucial that USCIS officials still consider the
parameters of sibling DNA test results, when those results do not equal a
conclusive percentage.

About DNAExam

The DNA Identity Testing Center of Bio-Synthesis Inc., headquartered in Lewisville,

Texas, is the global leader in DNA testing including, Paternity, Maternity,
Siblingship, Avuncularity, Grandparentage, and Forensic Samples, in both Private
and Legal Cases since 1995. Our staff of highly experienced and qualified DNA
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