Family based visas

Family Immigration

There are two types of family based immigration, with subcategories in each type. The first type is unlimited, and this applies to the immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and to permanent residents with green cards who have been out of the country for more than a year. The second type is limited, and this applies to adult children and other relatives not covered by the unlimited category.

At the Law Offices of Fred Thiagarajah, our immigration lawyer, Kiran Nair, is dedicated to helping people understand their options for bringing family members to live in the United States. The categories used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can be confusing. If you are hoping to bring a family member into the U.S., it is important to speak with a knowledgeable immigration lawyer to learn how your relative can obtain a family visa. Contact our Newport Beach law firm at 1-866-511-2757 to learn how we can help.

Categories of family-based visas

Immigration law allows citizens to sponsor an unlimited number of relatives as follows:

• Spouse, widow/er and unmarried child under 21 of a U.S. citizen
• Parent of a U.S. citizen who is 21 or older

In addition, a limited number of family visas will be issued to people in the following categories:

• Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens and their children
• Spouses, minor children and unmarried sons and daughters of lawful permanent residents. Most of these family visas will go to spouses and children of green card holders, with the rest being awarded to unmarried sons and daughters
• Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and children
• Brothers and sisters of United States citizens, and their spouses and children, provided the U.S. citizens are at least 21 years of age

Forms required for family-based immigration

Our law firm helps the sponsoring relative complete the required petitions and paperwork correctly so that a minor mistake does not delay the application for a family visa needlessly. Once the initial petition, form I-130, immigrant petition for relative, is approved, more documents are required. In addition to providing the applicant's passport, birth certificate and police record, the sponsoring relative must complete form I-864, also known as an affidavit of support. This form shows that the immigrant will not become a public charge and will have some means of support.

There are other steps and hurdles along the path to bringing a family member to the United States. Every case and every family situation is different and may have different requirements. It is important to have experienced legal advice throughout the process to avoid missteps and misunderstandings.

Our attorneys know how important it is to bring your family to the U.S. We work hard to make it possible. To learn how we can help, contact our Orange County law firm at 1-866-511-2757.

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