Family Based Immigration

Every year many thousands of legal immigrants in the United States apply for visas to have their fiancée, spouse or other family member join them in America.

Family-based immigrant visas require careful preparation, but even accurate and thorough applications may face significant delays. An immigration attorney from The Sheena Law Firm can prepare your family-based immigrant visa application and follow it through the visa process.

If you are a U.S. citizen you may petition for:

• Your spouse
• Your child under 21 years old
• Your parent, if you are at least 21
• Your unmarried child over 21 and his/her children
• Your married child of any age and his/her children
• Your brother or sister and his/her spouse and children, if you are at least 21

If you have legal permanent residency, you may petition for:

• Your spouse
• Your child under 21
• Your unmarried child over 21

If you want to be a sponsor to bring a family member to America:

• Be ready to prove that you are a legal relative of the person seeking a family visa.
• You must be a naturalized citizen or a legal resident of the United States.
• Be ready to prove that you will support your relative financially.

The difference between a successful family visa application and a denial is often determined by the immigration attorney's skills and determination. Families separated by borders face difficulties unknown to many people. In many cases, one member of a family moves to the United States to seek opportunity. 

That person may intend to bring his or her family to live in the U.S. one day. However, this can be a difficult and complicated process without the help of an immigration attorney. Many citizens and legal permanent residents seek family based visas to reunite with their loved ones and continue their lives together in the United States.

Applicants for family-based immigrant visas other than those for an immediate relative of a US citizen are assigned to the preference categories.

We handle all preference categories:

Obtaining a visa can be a complicated process, but having an experienced attorney on your side can prevent a host of problems and delays. Under federal law, citizens and legal permanent residents can sponsor their family members for immigrant visas.

There are no limitations on the total number of visas that can be issued to a child, spouse, or parent of a United States citizen; however, the total number of visas issued to immediate relatives (children, spouses, or parents) of US citizens affects the availability of other family-based immigrant visas.

Some of the specific family immigration needs and issues we can help you with include:

• Adjustments of status
• Affidavits of support assistance
• Criminal charges, bond applications and appeals
• Family petitions
• Fiancée visas
• Fiancée / fiancé visas
• Green card applications
• Green card for siblings
• Green card through marriage
• Immigration petitions for relatives of U.S.
• Immediate relative visas
• Investors' families visas
• Naturalization appeals
• U.S. citizenship applications/naturalizations
• Visas for children of fiancées / fiancés
• Visas for foreign spouses and children

The process includes include:

• The USCIS must approve your initial form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative as a sponsor for visa entry into the U.S. If you intend to be an approved sponsor, you must have current legal status in the United States.
• The U.S. State Department will assign an immigrant visa number to your petition as soon as one becomes available.
• When assigned a visa number, you are eligible to apply for a status of lawful permanent resident. If you are outside of the U.S., the process must be completed at the U.S. Consulate serving your region.

It is important to keep families together, and we will work hard to do just that for you. We will assist you in every step of the process so you can look forward to being reunited with your loved ones.

The Sheena Law Firm can walk you through the paperwork and help you choose the options that best suit your circumstances. We also coach all parties prior to the interview, and deal with any problems that may arise.

If you have questions or concerns about family-based visa matters including waiting periods, work authorization, adjustment of status, returning residents, waivers or counselor processing, please call The Sheena Law Firm today.