[_tableView reloadData];

[yourSearchBar becomeFirstResponder];

[_tableView reloadData];

// pass the responder to a temporary (hidden) textField
[_tmpTextField becomeFirstResponder];

// reload data
[_tableView reloadData];

// reloadData is definitely async...
// so pass the responder back in a timed op
double delayInSeconds = 0.1;
dispatch_time_t popTime = dispatch_time(DISPATCH_TIME_NOW, (int64_t)(delayInSeconds * NSEC_PER_SEC));
dispatch_after(popTime, dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(void){
    [_textField becomeFirstResponder];
});