Chamblee Family Visa Lawyer

There are many ways to secure the right to immigrate to the United States. One of the most common options involves having a close family member act as your sponsor. The effectiveness of this approach can vary, especially when you apply without the support of a skilled family immigration attorney.

Only certain relatives of citizens or lawful permanent residents can follow this path, and not every application will be successful. The process can also take longer depending on your relationship with your sponsor. One of our Chamblee family visa lawyers could answer your questions and guide you along the way.

The Types of Family Visas

There are different paths for immigrating to the United States based on family ties to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Some individuals can move through the system relatively quickly thanks to their close connection with U.S. citizens. For everyone else sponsored by a family member, the process can take much longer.

These two approaches are known as immediate relative and family preference visas. The difference between these two systems is stark, as one system takes much longer than the other to navigate. A family visa attorney in Chamblee could help with either approach.

Immediate Relatives

Only a small number of people qualify for the immediate relatives process. This system lacks any yearly caps, meaning every person that qualifies will have their chance for admittance in short order.

Only certain close family members of U.S. citizens can use this option, including spouses and parents. A citizen can also sponsor their children this way as long as they are unmarried and below the age of 21.

Family Preference

Applicants who do not meet the qualifications for immediate relatives could still immigrate to the U.S. under the family preference system. The downside to this approach is that there are annual limits on the number of visas awarded this way. It can take years for a person to get their chance to come to this country.

This program is primarily reserved for the immediate family of lawful permanent residents. However, distant family members of citizens also fall into this category.

Tracking a Family Preference Visa

One of the frustrating aspects of the family preference system is that it can take a long time to secure a visa. An applicant that otherwise meets all the qualifications will not be immediately accepted into the country. This is because of the limited number of slots available on an annual basis. Many people are forced to wait years until their number is called before they can immigrate to this country.

Over time, it can become hard to track the status of these applications. That is why each month, the federal government releases something known as the Visa Bulletin to keep immigrants informed of their status. This document is used to identify how much time it might take based on the priority date that has been assigned. A lawyer in Chamblee could track these cases and assist with addressing any unnecessary delays in the family visa process.

Contact a Chamblee Family Visa Attorney Right Away

Each year, numerous families are reunited in the United States thanks to this immigration system. Whether you are an immediate relative of a citizen or have family ties to a permanent resident, the right sponsor might provide you with a path to citizenship in this country. Call a Chamblee family visa lawyer today to learn more.