U.S. immigration law has traditionally focused on family unification. U.S. law provides immigration pathways for spouses, children, parents, and brothers and sisters to immigrate into the United States through family-based petitions. We assist in all types of family-based immigration cases.

These cases can become quite complicated with certain issues that may seriously affect eligibility. Some issues include marrying during the petitioner, a child aging out, death of the petitioner, financial issues from the petitioner, domicile in the United States, incomplete submissions or failures to provide requested materials to various government agencies.

A family member may be an immediate relative such as a child, spouse, or parent of a U.S. citizen. A child applying for a parent must be at least 21, and if a parent applies for a child, the child must be under 21 and unmarried at the time of filing to be considered an immediate relative. If you are not an immediate relative, you will have a longer wait. The wait times are published on the State Deparment’s Visa Bulletin. Here are the preference categories that determine the government's order of preference in processing family-sponsored immigrants who are not immediate relatives:

First Preference

• Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. Citizens

Second Preference

• Spouses and unmarried children of Lawful Permanent Residents
• 2A includes spouses and unmarried children of Lawful Permanent Residents
• 2B includes unmarried sons and daughters, 21 years of age and older, of Lawful Permanent Residents

Third Preference

• Married sons and daughters of U.S. Citizens

Fourth Preference

• Brothers and Sisters of U.S. Citizens