Family-based immigration allows United States citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), also known as a permanent resident green card holder or individuals with permanent resident status, to bring their relatives to enter the United States legally. This system is part of the broader family immigration process, where a citizen or resident petitions on behalf of a qualifying family member through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). As trusted family-based immigration attorneys, our law firm assists clients with a wide range of immigration issues, ensuring that families remain connected and that every petition is handled with care and precision.
This is the most common form of legal immigration.
Since the establishment of our first colonies in the 17th century, immigration has been largely family-based. However, the enactment of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1965 formally established family ties as the primary means of immigration to America.
Today, family-based immigration makes up two-thirds of immigration into the United States.
The family-based immigration process typically begins with a U.S. citizen or individual with permanent resident status submitting a request to the U.S. government to allow a family member to apply for a green card and immigrate.
Our law firm assists clients in completing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with the USCIS Citizenship and Immigration Services. Filing this petition establishes the existence of a qualifying family relationship within the immediate relative or family-based immigration categories. Understanding the different types of visas available under family-based immigration is essential, as each category carries its own requirements and processing timelines. An experienced immigration attorney and family immigration lawyer can guide you through the immigration petition process, ensure the correct supporting documents are submitted, and help avoid costly mistakes that could delay your immigration case. Having professional legal guidance provides families peace of mind, knowing that their immigration matters and related immigration issues are being handled by professionals dedicated to reuniting loved ones.
All family-based immigrants fall into one of two major categories: immediate relatives or family preference.
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There are an unlimited number of immigrant visas available each year for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. Understanding the types of visas within this category can help you determine which path best fits your family’s situation.
There is a limited number of family preference immigrant visas. Each immigration petition filed under these preference categories is subject to annual numerical limits, which means wait times can vary significantly depending on your relationship to the petitioner and your country of origin.
Petitioning for unmarried sons and daughters, whether adult children of U.S. citizens or of a permanent resident green card holder, requires careful attention to the correct preference category and priority date.
Our immigration attorneys at Aftalion Law Group have the knowledge, insight, and resources you can count on for exceptional representation in immigration matters. If you are seeking guidance from a dedicated family immigration lawyer to resolve complex immigration issues, our experienced immigration attorney team is here to provide the support you need. Whether you need help identifying the right types of visas for your relatives, learning how to apply for a green card, green card renewal help for a family member who already has permanent resident status, or filing a successful immigration petition on their behalf, we are ready to assist at every stage. With offices in Los Angeles and New York, we guide families through every step of the family immigration process, giving you and your loved ones lasting peace of mind as you work toward a secure and united future.
