Charlotte Family Immigration Visa Categories

Spending significant time separated from your family due to the immigration process can lead to emotional distress. Foreign residents with a familial relationship with a U.S. citizen or green card holder can potentially obtain a visa to enter the country legally.

The foreign resident’s ability to obtain a visa will depend on the specific type of family relationship. If you have questions about utilizing a family relationship to legally enter the country, you should speak with a skilled attorney about Charlotte family immigration visa categories.

Immediate Relatives Take Priority

When it comes to using a family relationship to obtain a green card, immediate family members will take priority. Immediate relatives include a U.S. citizen’s:

Spouse
Unmarried children under 21 years old
Parents

According to 8 U.S.C. § 1153, U.S. citizens can act as green card sponsors for their immediate relatives. These family members can apply for a green card on an immediate basis.

Immediate relatives have certain advantages when seeking a green card. These applications are typically processed faster than other types of family-based visa categories. Further, immediate family visas are not subject to annual numerical visa restrictions.

The process of applying for an immediate family visa can vary based on whether the foreign resident is located inside or outside of the country. You can seek legal help from a Charlotte attorney to determine if you qualify for a family-based visa category and begin the application process.

Family Preference Visas

If a family member does not qualify for a green card as an immediate relative, they may qualify for a family preference visa. Family preference visas are approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and are available for certain close relatives of U.S. citizens or green card holders.

Family preference visa immigration in Charlotte is broken down into four categories, including:

First preference, or F1 – When a foreign resident is an unmarried child of a U.S. citizen that are 21 years of age or older
Second preference, known as F2A or F2B – The F2A preference is for unmarried children, regardless of age, and spouses of green card holders, while the F2B preference applies to unmarried children of a green card holder that are at least 21 years old
Third preference, or F3 – For married children of U.S. citizens
Fourth preference, or F4 – For siblings of U.S. citizens (if the sponsor sibling is at least 21 years of age)

While there is no limit on the number of available immediate relative visas, family preference visas are subject to annual numerical restrictions. For the last fiscal year, the maximum limit was 226,000 family preference visas.

Potential Grounds For Inadmissibility

Even when an applicant can qualify for a family visa immigration category in Charlotte, certain factors can lead to a decision that they are inadmissible. The Immigration and Nationality Act outlines several reasons that could make a foreign resident inadmissible to the country under 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a).

These grounds for inadmissibility can include factors such as:

Certain health-related reasons, such as having a contagious disease
Prior criminal convictions
Concerns about national security
Prior illegal immigration status or unlawful entry into the country

An attorney can advise you on whether any past actions can impact your immigration eligibility under the applicable family visa categories.

Ask a Charlotte Family Immigration Attorney Today About Visa Categories

The process of applying for a visa can seem daunting. You should speak with an attorney when applying for Charlotte family immigration visa categories to help you through this process and save you time.

An attorney can provide legal advice on matters such as the required documentation needed to show a familial relationship during the application process.