Any foreigner that wants to live permanently in the United States needs an immigrant visa. However, for them to be eligible for an immigrant visa that enables permanent residence, they need to be sponsored by an immediate relative who is a lawful permanent resident with a green card or a legal or a US citizen. This relative also has to be at least 21 years old.
As a US citizen, you can file for a family-based immigrant visa for your family members including your children, spouse, parents, or siblings. On the other hand, lawful permanent residents can file for visas for their unmarried children or spouses.
As a petitioner, you will begin the process by requesting the government to allow your family member to immigrate. The process starts with you filling the I-130 petition that shows the existence of a family member that qualifies for the visa.
The USCIS approves your petition and avails you with a visa number and your foreign family member can now apply for a green card. The two paths to apply for a green card are:
This happens when the immigrant is already in the United States so they can adjust their status to that of a permanent resident. However, adjustment of status is only available to a limited number of applicants.
This is the most common way through which non-immigrants get a green card.
The demand for family-based immigrant visas may be high, which creates a backlog. The waiting list is long and the person’s place can be determined with a priority date when your specific case will be properly filed and accepted. This priority date is given for family-preference visas
Since the immigration process may take a relatively long time, it can be especially useful to have a family immigration attorney from an immigration law firm by your side. Your family immigration lawyer will answer any questions you have about the immigration process and help you with immigration matters as you move your family to the US.
Our attorneys at KGW Law Firm respect the attorney-client relationship to ensure you get the best outcome for your case so you can up your chances of becoming a United States citizen.
At KGW Law Firm we have qualified immigration lawyers who handle family-based immigration issues. Therefore, you can be confident in reaching out to us with your needs. Fill out our consultation form and start your process of working with us today for your family immigration visa.
