Family Immigration Lawyer

If you are currently a legal U.S. resident or have a family member residing here who is, family-based immigration may be an option for reuniting you and your loved ones as legal residents of the United States. In order for a family visa to be granted, though, there are many procedural steps that must be completed, and there is a lot of information and documentation you will have to present to U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) to prove you qualify for this kind of visa.

In both respects, assistance from a seasoned Doraville family immigration lawyer could greatly boost your chances of achieving a successful outcome to your application. A local attorney who has helped families like yours before could work tirelessly and effectively on your behalf to ensure your interactions with USCIS and the Department of Homeland Security go as smoothly as they possibly can.

How to Apply for a Family Immigrant Visa

In order to start the application process for a family-based immigrant visa, a family member who is already a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident must file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative with USCIS. This form’s main purpose is establishing a valid familial relationship between the petitioner and the prospective recipient(s) of a family-based visa.

In addition to Form I-130, the petitioner—or whoever will serve as the prospective immigrant’s sponsor—must submit a signed Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, which will affirm the signing party’s role as sponsor. The sponsor of someone immigrating to the United States through a family-based visa must accept full financial liability for the immigrant in question until that immigrant either becomes a naturalized U.S. citizens or earns 40 qualifying work quarters as defined by the Social Security Act.

Finally, if both steps proceed without issue, the National Visa Center will schedule a date for the prospective visa recipient—and any family members they wish to bring to the U.S. with them—to be interviewed at their nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. A Doraville family immigration attorney could offer further clarification about every step of this process and what documentation may be required at each stage.

Who Could Receive a Family-Based Visa?

Only immediate family members are eligible to pursue family-based visas with sponsorship from a family member in the United States. If the sponsoring party is a U.S. citizen, they can petition for a visa on behalf of any of the following relatives:

• A spouse or fiancé(e)
• Unmarried children under 21 years of age
• Married children over 21 years of age
• Parents, if the petitioning party is over 21 years of age
• Siblings, if the petitioning party is over 21 years of age

A family immigration attorney in Doraville could also help a legal permanent resident of the United States with a valid Green Card petition for a family visa on behalf of their spouse and/or unmarried children of any age. Likewise, individuals granted refugee status or asylum in the U.S. less than two years ago can petition to have spouses and unmarried minor children join them as derivative refugees or asylees.

Consider Working with a Doraville Family Immigrant Attorney

Once you establish legal residence in the United States, your pathway to bringing immediate family members into the U.S. becomes significantly more straightforward. That being said, you will still need to go through a lengthy application process if you want to acquire an immigration visa on a family member’s behalf, and there are several important obligations you will take on when doing so.

A Doraville family immigration lawyer could help you understand both the procedures necessary for getting a family visa and what you can expect after applying for one. Call today to learn more about the possibilities in your circumstances.