questions

Hi,
I find this place very informative and helpful, I couldnt find my question in any topic.

I am canadian citizen and have few questions for applying green card for US.
I have my sister who is US citizen and I would like to apply for green card through family category, Any information regarding the process of applying and how long does it usually takes to process and how much approx does it cost.
Also during this process can I still work in US on TN VISA, the problem is, I do not have any own residence in Canada or anyother relatives Canada, will this be a problem for my application.
any other information, suggestions I need to know are welcome

Thank you
V

Here is the instructions to the I-130 petition
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-130instr.pdf

I have my sister who is US citizen and I would like to apply for green card through family category, Any information regarding the process of applying and how long does it usually takes to process and how much approx does it cost.

It's actually very simple to apply for, it's fourth preference, just read the instructions that Reba posted a link to. Basically to do the initial application you just need proof that you're siblings, copies of your birth certificates should be sufficient and you pay the fee. When the visa number comes up that's when it gets more complicated, you have to have a medical, she has to show she can support you (at a fairly minimal level, it's not a big deal really), provide three years worth of her tax returns - if she's not working but married then it doesn't make a fat lot of difference because the 1040 will be a joint return.

However the snag is that in fourth preference it takes years and years and years for the visa number to come up, absolute bare minimum of eight years and you could be waiting twelve or so, plus best part of another year to do the AOS when you get the number.

There is a bill in Congress that would abolish fourth preference applications, but it would also grandfather in current applications and require them to be processed in eight years. So if you apply now, I'd say odds are you would be waiting around nine years roughly.

Also during this process can I still work in US on TN VISA, the problem is, I do not have any own residence in Canada or anyother relatives Canada, will this be a problem for my application.
any other information, suggestions I need to know are welcome

You don't have to have an abode abroad for TN-1, however you do have to demonstrate the stay will be "temporary". So say you get a three-year TN-1 you'd have to get two more before your visa number comes up. Not impossible by any means, plenty of people been on here who have had TN-1 for ten years plus, but you do need to be careful to maintain non-immigrant intent.

Although TN-1 is not dual status it doesn't matter with family-based immigration applications, when the visa number comes up you can file I-485 (as well as the supporting documents and forms) and adjust status to LPR.

It is entirely legitimate to have non-immigrant intent while you wait for an immigrant application to go through, precisely because it can take many years and you can quite legitimately have non-immigrant intent to enter the US in the meantime - but you must have non-immigrant intent and be able to demonstrate it.