What type of immigrant can a US citizen help become a citizen?

US citizens both naturalized or native born can bring their relatives who are residents of another country to the US and help them become an LPR which is lawful permanent resident status. An immigration lawyer will make this much easier for sure though.  

Difference between citizens and green card holders

A green card holder or an LPR can only petition for his or her spouse and their unmarried children but cannot petition for anyone else. Spouses, unmarried children, and other relatives of LPRs are categorized as preferential relatives and this means that there is a cap on the number of visas granted every year for preferential relatives. Since the demand for such visas is high their relatives will be on a long waiting list and might have to wait years to enter America which is on the verge of bankruptcy and not exactly flying too high right now. But even a pathetic America is better than most other countries or all of them.

However, if you have graduated from an LPR to a naturalized citizen your situation will improve greatly. If you have applied for visas for your spouse and children while you had LPR status their applications will be fast tracked and they will be able to immigrate pretty soon. If they know English and can pay their own way even better. If they have tech and engineering skills, all the more better since America needs more talent in these areas.

In addition, you can apply for other family members such as married children, parents, brothers, and sisters. However, the process entails a lot of paperwork and therefore it would be wise to seek help from an immigration attorney and do not do what Danny Glover’s goofy character did in Lethal Weapon 4 and try to smuggle in people that do not know English and have no place in America. That can hurt you and them. 

If you need legal help contact us. We can be reached right here: Immigration.USAttorneys. Or use this site to find the legal help you need. This site has been the virtual lifeline for many, it has plenty of strength for you as well.

Helping your spouse and children who are foreign nationals to immigrate to the US

As soon as you become a US national your spouse and your children become immediate relatives which mean that you can petition on their behalf for LPR status. Immediate relatives are not subjected to caps and there are no waiting lists for this category. However, they may have to wait for a year for an ‘adjustment of status’.

The sparkling news is that if you have filed an immigration petition while you were an LPR and your dependents ended up on the waiting list, you will not have to start the process from scratch. When you file a new visa petition they will automatically be placed at the top of the list since they are an immediate relative.

If you have children over 21 years of age then they are first preference relatives and this category has annual visa limits. Their chances are not as good as immediate relatives but are better than other preference categories.

How can other family members benefit when you become US citizen?

Once you become a naturalized citizen you can help your parents, brothers and sisters married children obtain a green card. Just make sure you or your relatives do not have a criminal record. Your parents become immediate relatives and they benefit the most. Your married brothers and sister as well as your married children become preference relatives and therefore they will appear on waiting lists when you apply for their visa as there are annual visa limits. Again, if they know English and can add something to America, all the more better.

It is important that your visa petitions for family based immigration are reviewed by an immigration lawyer. Several supporting documents like naturalization papers, birth certificates, affidavits from employers, and financial statements must be filed along with the visa application. For a sponsor to handle the staggering amount of paperwork could be a daunting task. Therefore, it is judicious to leave the formalities under the care of a legal representative.

The United States has mainly always welcomed immigrants who take the legal route. They aren’t a burden on the country unlike illegal immigrants who have enjoyed a free reign under the Obama administration for the most part. To immigrate the right way, don’t hesitate to consult an immigration lawyer right away.