United States immigration laws allow U.S. citizens and Green Card holders to help their families immigrate to the U.S. and gain status as lawful permanent residents with the ability to live and work in the U.S. for as long as they want. However, the process of gaining approval can be confusing, and mistakes in the application process can cause applications to be delayed or denied.
Allow the team at Odunlami Law to assist in helping you achieve your immigration goals. We can review your situation, determine your best options, and work with you each step of the way to reunite your family and make your dreams a reality. As a team of immigrants ourselves, we understand the difficulties and frustration that are so often part of the process, and we work to prevent problems before they can impact your results.
Which Family Members Can You Assist with Immigration?
You can petition for a permanent, immigrant visa for certain family members, depending on your own status. U.S. citizens are eligible to petition for more family members than Green Card holders. If you file a petition and then obtain citizenship while the application is in progress, we can update your information with authorities if that preference gives you the advantage of a quicker processing of the application.
If you are a lawful permanent resident with a Green Card but have not yet achieved citizenship, you can petition for immigration for your spouse and your unmarried children. If you are a U.S. citizen, you can file an immigration petition on behalf of:
- Your spouse
- Your children (and their spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21)
- Your parents
- Your brothers and sisters
Different relatives will be assigned to various categories that affect how quickly they will receive a visa or permanent resident status. Our team can assess your situation and determine the category that provides the best opportunities.
Understanding Preference Categories
Family immigration petitions fall into two main categories. For someone classified as an “Immediate Relative,” the process usually goes faster because there are an unlimited number of visas available. Family members who instead fit into one of the Family Preference categories often have a much longer wait to obtain a permanent visa because only a limited number are issued each year.
Immediate relatives are close relatives of U.S. citizens. Specifically, an immediate relative is either the spouse, parent, or unmarried minor child of a U.S. citizen.
Family Preference categories are ranked as below:
- First preference (F1) – Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens
- Second preference (F2) – Spouses and unmarried children of Green Card holders. Children under the age of 21 have a preference level that is higher than children over the age of 21
- Third preference (F3) – Married children of U.S. citizens (and their spouses and unmarried minor children)
- Fourth preference (F4) – Siblings of U.S. citizens aged 21 and over
In addition, an individual who is the widow or widower of a U.S. citizen is also eligible to petition for a Green Card either on their own or in conjunction with a family petition.
Temporary Visas Can Reunite Your Family While You Work Toward a Permanent Visa
Similarly, if you are engaged to someone who is outside the country and you want to get married in the U.S., we can help you apply for a K-1 fiancé visa to enable your fiancé to come into the U.S. for the wedding. Once you are married, then your new spouse can file to adjust their status to that of Lawful Permanent Resident. If your fiance has unmarried children under the age of 21, we can help them obtain K-2 visas to join you in the U.S.
For family members who are unable to take advantage of these programs, we may be able to use other options, such as student visas. However, it is vitally important to understand visa requirements and comply with them precisely, because if you overstay a visa or attempt to do something that is not permitted under the terms of your visa, that could seriously hurt your efforts to gain lawful permanent resident status in the future. We know how to prevent problems that could come back to haunt you later.
Find Out How Odunlami Law Can Help Your Family Succeed in Reaching Immigration Goals
Many families dream of reuniting for a shared future in the United States. We helped our own families achieve these dreams, so we understand the desire, along with the confusion and frustration caused by the rules and the delayed process.
We want to help you make the journey as smooth as possible for your family. Contact Odunlami Law today to learn more about how we can help you or your family immigrate legally to the U.S.
