Your Options for Family-Based Immigration
Are you a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident who would like to bring a family member to the United States? While the United States supports strong family ties, there are still many hoops that you must go through before you can reunite with your loved one. Depending on who you are and who you would like to sponsor, it may even take years.
At MPL Law Firm, we help clients take important steps to ensure that their family members can immigrate at the earliest possible time. To speak with a York, Pennsylvania family visa lawyer about your options, please contact us. Our attorneys are friendly and approachable — we get to know our clients and their goals so that we can provide effective representation for all of their legal needs.
Family Visas: Immediate Relatives and Fiances
There are an unlimited number of "immediate relative" (IR) visas available for close family members of U.S. citizens. Family members eligible for these visas include:
- Spouses of U.S. citizens
- Unmarried children of U.S. citizens under 21 years old
- Orphans adopted by U.S. citizens
- Parents of U.S. citizens who are more than 21 years old
Fiancé(e)s are another special class of visa applicants. Fiancé(e)s can apply for a K-visa, a nonimmigrant visa that permits a foreign-citizen Fiancé(e)s to come to the U.S. for 90 days, during which time he or she must marry the U.S. sponsor.
Family Preference Immigrant Visas
Family relationships that do not fall under the IR classification must apply through one of the family preference categories. There are a limited number of family preference visas available each year and a waiting list in each of the following categories:
- First preference: Unmarried children of U.S. citizens and their minor children
- Second preference: Spouses, minor children and unmarried older children of legal permanent residents
- Third preference: Married children of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children
- Fourth preference: Siblings of U.S. citizens and their spouses and minor children (the U.S. citizen must be at least 21 years old)
Our York, Pennsylvania family visa lawyers can help you navigate these preferences and file the proper paperwork with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
