Family is always important. The ties are so strong that often one member of a family will assist other members of his or her family to immigrate to the U.S. to reunite with their loved one. They may become legal permanent residents or take the ultimate step to U.S. Citizenship.
All immigration is complex and family based immigration is very complex. Depending on the status of the family member in the U.S. and the relational nature of the relatives who wish to join them, the process can be convoluted and lengthy. At LTI LAW, APC, we can help you understand the steps that are necessary and the process.
Immediate Relatives And Family Preference Categories
Citizens can apply for immediate relatives, who are classified as spouse, unmarried child who is less than 21 years old, or parent. The advantage of this classification is that they do not need to wait for a visa number.
The other classification is family preference, which includes the spouse or unmarried children older than age 21 of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents as well as a variety of other related persons. The disadvantage of this classification is that there are rigid limits on the numbers of visas available each year. In addition, the visas are limited by a number of other factors, such as region.
Because of the demand, it is important to be certain that you make no mistakes during this process. If an application is denied, you may be forced to start all over from the beginning. Given that this process sometimes may take a decade or more, our attorney can help ensure that everything is done properly to avoid that risk.
Petitions For Family Immigration
Petition forms that may be necessary to bring a family member to the U.S. and programs that may be available for individuals include:
- Form I-751: Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
- Form I-130: Petition for Alien Relative
- Form I-485: Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
- Deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA)
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
- Fiancé(e) K-1 visa
The availability of any of these programs for an individual demands a complex analysis, and our attorney can review your situation and determine how best to proceed. We can also answer your questions for issues involving an adjustment of status or naturalization.
