If you wish to become a permanent lawful resident of the U.S. as an immediate family member of someone who is already a U.S. citizen, you can petition for an immediate family visa. Immediate family members receive preference for immigration visas. The process for obtaining a visa for an immediate family member can be complicated, but an experienced family visa immigration attorney can guide you through each step.
Contact Family Visa today at (800) 605-VISA to find out more about how we can help you apply for a visa for an immediate relative.
Who Is Considered Immediate Family for Immigration?
Non U.S. citizens have the right to petition for permanent resident status as an immediate relative of a citizen. Immediate family members receive special priority from Immigration Services. The process for retrieving a visa for an immediate relative is different from other types of visas.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the following people qualify as immediate family:
- The spouse of a U.S. citizen
- An unmarried child of a U.S. citizen who is under the age of 21
- The parent of a U.S. citizen, if the citizen is over the age of 21
If you do not qualify as an immediate family member, you can still petition for a family preference green card. If you are a widow or widower of a U.S. citizen, you will apply for a visa through the Green Card for Widow(er)s process, instead.
How to Obtain a Visa as Immediate Family
The process for obtaining a visa for immediate family changes based on whether you are living in the U.S. or outside of the country:
- Inside the U.S. – As an immediate relative residing in the United States, you will complete Form I-485 to register for permanent residence or adjust your status. Your relative – who is your sponsor – will need to complete Form I-130, the Petition for Alien Relative.
- Outside the U.S. – If you are currently living outside of the U.S., you will need to go through consular processing. This begins with becoming eligible to immigrate through a petition filed on your behalf by your immediate family member. Then, you and your relative will file your family-based immigrant petition together.
Unlike a visa for family preference, there is no limit on the number of immediate family visas available. Immediate family visas are also expedited, meaning you won’t have to wait as long to receive your decision.
How Can Family Visa Help You?
Obtaining an immediate family visa is a multistep process that can be made easier with assistance from an attorney. At Family Visa, immigration law is all we do. We keep up with all of the latest immigration laws and visa requirements. We are laser-focused on family-based immigration services, giving us in-depth knowledge and experience in this practice area to put to use on behalf of our clients.
Our family immigration lawyers have a reputation for quality, professionalism and responsiveness – along with over 50 five-star reviews. We are proud to say that we have a 100 percent case success rate and have successfully processed hundreds of visa applications for clients over the last five years. Initial consultations with our multilingual staff are free and available 24/7.
Contact Family Visa for Help With an Immediate Family Visa Today
Although visas for immediate family members are given special treatment, obtaining this type of visa is still a difficult and complicated process. At Family Visa, we can take care of confusing legal paperwork for you and help you understand what to expect from this process. We can determine your eligibility for an immediate family visa, answer any questions that you have regarding immigration, and prepare your application thoroughly and efficiently.
We will do everything that we can to help your immediate family member officially become a lawful permanent resident of the United States. Start the visa application process by contacting a Family Visa attorney today.