Family-based immigration to the USA is possible, but it has to be done legally through family-based immigration sponsorship. The process can be overwhelmingly tricky, but working with an immigration lawyer can be straightforward. If you are a U.S. citizen and have a permanent residency, then you can sponsor your family members and help them get green cards. It can be done via adjustment of status or consular procedures. But what would be the best option for your family? That is what we are here to figure out.
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Are you eligible to sponsor your family for a green card?
Before you take you to the USA, you must determine your sponsorship eligibility. To get the answer, you need to meet the following criteria:
- You need to have proof of your US citizenship or have a lawful permanent residency
- You have to prove your relationship with your family members you like to sponsor
- Can you support your family members financially?
These are just the basics, but a green card attorney can show you some more. Depending on those, you can figure out whether you are eligible enough to sponsor your family members. Remember, there is no shortcut to make this process faster, and you cannot choose any illegal means to make it work, or you will face deportation.
Filling a Visa Petition
Since you are the sponsor, you ought to file a visa petition to the US citizenship and immigration services to start your family member’s immigration procedure. Of course, some of the process will be difficult, and you may struggle a bit, but a green card attorney can make the procedure more manageable for you. A visa petition has significance as it creates an immigration relationship between you and the family members you would like to sponsor. It will be needed even when your family members seek only an adjustment of status or consular proceedings.
Recognize your family members before sponsoring.
One small mistake or missed detail can jeopardize the sponsorship process; therefore, you must know whom you can sponsor for the green card. S.K. Immigration Law, PLLC states that you can sponsor your spouse, unmarried children under 21, parents over 21, siblings above 21, and married children. A couple more things you have to figure out before your family member’s immigration, so learn about them as well from your green card attorney in Queens.
How long do you have to wait for the USCIS APPROVAL?
It depends on many things, but after a petition, USCIS reviews petitions and notifies participants of their decision. Therefore, it is hard to determine how much it would take, but if you complete the whole process as per the guidance of your Immigration Lawyer Queens, then you will have your answers in a month. Once your petition is approved, USCIS will transfer your petition to the National Visa Center for more processing, especially when your family members opt for the consular proceedings. However, a green card attorney may suggest that your family adjust their status, which will enable your family members to file for adjustment of status for the processing to go faster.
