How to get a foreign family member into the US?

Lawful permanent residents or LPRs and US citizens can help their family members immigrate to America. Spokane, WA immigration lawyers say the first step is to acquire an immigrant visa and subsequently apply for a green card or LPR. If your family member is already in the US, you will have to petition for an ‘adjustment of status’.

The procedure is a tedious one and it would be sagacious to seek help from a legal professional to assist you with the petition. For the most part, a number of factors determine the actual processing time. The petitioner’s status as a US citizen or LPR is very important. Secondly, the amount of processing time depends on factors such as the country of origin of the beneficiary, your family relation with the person, any pending criminal proceedings, and personal circumstances of the beneficiary.

Who are eligible for US immigration?

Relatives applying for immigration fall under two categories; immediate relatives of US citizens and family preference relatives. There are no quotas or limitations in the case of immediate relatives. Children of US citizens below 21 years of age and opposite sex or same sex spouses can apply for US visa under the ‘immediate relatives’ category.

Parents of children who are 21 years of age and are US citizens, orphans who are adopted in the US or from other countries can also apply for immigration under this category. However, there are quotas that apply to family preference relatives, which are revised yearly and Spokane, WA immigration attorneys pay close attention to these changing rules.

Climbing a mountain is hard. Climbing a mountain is almost impossible if you do not have the right equipment. Trying to get someone you care about through the immigration process is no different. You do not need any equipment but you need the right law firm. If you need a Spokane, WA immigration lawyer, go right here: http://www.powelllawoffices.net/. The Powell Law Offices will be happy to receive your call and you will soon be happy you made that call. 

Family Preference Relatives

First Preference or F1- Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens can immigrate under the law. The condition is that the beneficiary must be unmarried at the time of the petition, and remain so until they receive a green card.

Second Preference or F2- Permanent residents can apply under this law to help immigrate spouses, unmarried sons, and daughters (21 and above). Children who are divorced or widowed are considered unmarried, and are eligible to apply under this category.

Third Preference or F3- Under this married sons and daughters as well as their children are allowed to immigrate. If the beneficiary obtains a good-faith divorce during the waiting period then he/she can apply for immigration under the F1 preference.

Fourth Preference or F4- Brothers and sisters as well as half-brothers and half-sisters, adoptive siblings, and their children can apply for immigration under this category.

How to start the process of filing?

Since this involves several complicated forms and supporting documents, it is wise to consult a Spokane, Washington immigration lawyer at this stage. You will need to submit the I-130 form, called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form is available from the United State Citizenship and Immigration Service or USCIS Offices and their website.

A copy of the green card or the passport is provided as a document of proof confirming the petitioner as a US citizen. Additionally, you will have to provide proof of the relationship with the person. Along with this immigration lawyers recommend that petitioners submit Affidavit of Support and form I-864. Make sure to maintain copies of all the documents you have submitted. You should have a digital file set up and certainly a paper file set up as well with all this information saved.

If the forms are in order the petitioner will receive a receipt of the documents. If they are not in order then the USCIS will ask for an RFE or Request for Evidence.

When the documents are all in order the file will be sent to the National Visa Center where it will remain until a slot for immigration is made available. If you need any help in this matter, you should call a Spokane immigration lawyer at the Powell Law Offices. No law firm does a better job for their clients than this one.