Family-Based
U.S. citizens may petition for a spouse, children, parents, and siblings. Lawful permanent residents may petition for a spouse and unmarried children.
The distinction that matters most: spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens are immediate relatives, and a visa is available to them as soon as the paperwork is approved. Everyone else falls into a preference category with a limited number of visas each year, which means waiting — sometimes for years, and longer for people from countries with high demand.
What the Process Looks Like
CONSULTATION AND ELIGIBILITY REVIEW
We determine the category, the route and any bars before anything is filed.
PETITION AND SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
We prepare the filing and assemble whatever information, documentation, or further evidence needs to accompany it.
WAITING, WITH PERIODIC UPDATES
Most of the timeline is out of anyone's hands. You will hear from the office when something moves.
INTERVIEW PREPARATION AND REPRESENTATION
If contracted for this service, we will go though the likely questions on the interview with you in advance, and will appear with you where permitted.
What Relief May Be Available
FAMILY PETITIONS - Application proving a qualifying relationship, the beginning of the journey.
ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS - For individuals who are already in the United States and who are eligible to complete the process here, without leaving.
CONSULAR PROCESSING - Where a family petition makes a green card available for someone abroad, or someone here who is not eligible to adjust. The case finishes at a U.S. consulate in their home country.
MISC. - Other matters handled by our office:
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Fiance visas and the adjustment of status following the marriage
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Removing conditions on a green card'
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Affidavits of support, income requirement issues
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Waivers
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Widows and Widowers of U.S. Citizens