- Home
- Services
- Areas Served
- Our Firm
- Empowered People
- Blog
- Client Tools
- Giving Back
- Join the SLF Team
- Contact Us
- En Español
Choosing to immigrate to the United States requires a lot of careful thought because you have to be sure you’re willing to live with certain sacrifices. By far the hardest of these is being separated from your family. Living in another country is challenging enough, but it can be more difficult if your strongest support system is not there with you.
Thankfully, there is a way for you to be with your family again. If you are a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident and are at least 21 years old, you can petition your family members for permanent residency. There are some complex rules and processes, and a Concord family-based Green Card lawyer could provide guidance and advice. The team at the Sussman Law Firm is here to help with your situation so you can feel at home in the United States.
The United States has several types of visas for family members and the closeness of the familial relationship to the sponsor will decide which type is most appropriate. Your close relatives, such as spouse, unmarried children under the age of 21, and parents, could be eligible for immediate family visas.
There is no limit to the number of visas the United States may issue for immediate family members. However, citizens of the United States may sponsor their spouses, sons, daughters, or parents for this type of visa. Green Card holders may not petition for an immediate family visa.
This process can take a lot of time and effort as there are a lot of forms to complete and documents to collect. If you are petitioning for multiple family members under an immediate family visa, they require separate forms and documents as you cannot have them all as one package. Everyone, including you, the sponsor, must also have an in-person interview with a United States official
It is understandable if this feels overwhelming, and in most cases, delays or rejections are caused by avoidable mistakes like missing documents or incomplete forms. An experienced attorney could help guide you through the process so your immediate relatives could become permanent residents in Concord with you.
Family is not limited to those with immediate familial relationships like spouses and minor children. Most everyone has just as close of a bond with their brothers, sisters, or adult sons and daughters. Although they do not qualify for an immediate family visa, United States law has another path for these more distant family members to receive a Green Card.
Citizens of the United States may petition for a family preference visa for other family members who do not qualify for an immediate relative visa. The family preference visas are for children over the age of 21 who are not married, married children, and brothers and sisters. Green Card holders in the United States are also able to petition their spouses and unmarried children for this type of visa.
Unlike immediate relative visas, the number of family preference visas has limited availability every year under United States law. Unfortunately, this means that your family members may not receive their visas even if they qualify.
The process is similar to an immediate relative visa and requires many of the same forms and documents, plus the in-person interview. A devoted Concord attorney could help you and your family prepare for this type of visa process so you can be together.
If you are a citizen or lawful permanent resident, you could petition your family members for their own visas so they can live with you. Reach out to a Concord family-based Green Card lawyer to talk about your situation.
Immigration is a complex and ever-changing area of United States law, and the team at Sussman Law Firm has extensive experience in helping families navigate through the challenges. Call to schedule a consultation with a dedicated attorney.
Charlotte Family & Divorce Lawyers and Immigration Attorneys