Minnesota Immigration Attorney Giving You the Representation You Need for Family Immigration Petitions
Being separated from someone’s family can be difficult. This is especially true if that separation is between different countries. Due to multiple factors, many people are separated from their families due to immigration every year. It can be incredibly difficult and intimidating for someone to immigrate to an entirely different country, and it can be even more difficult for entire families to immigrate.
Many hope to reunite with their family in the United States. For some people, this means years of waiting, working, and struggling before they can bring their loved ones to America. For many people, though, immigration status may open doors for their family members. This is because the United States offers an opportunity for some immigrants to petition for family members to come to America and be reunited through the family-based immigration process by filing the Petition for Alien Relative.
What is Petition for Alien Relative?
Petition for Alien Relative is also called Form I-130. It is a process through which a person can request that a family member come to the United States. Citizens and permanent residents are eligible to petition certain types of relatives (e.g., spouses and children), but different rules apply depending on whether they are citizens or permanent residents.
Depending on whether a person is a citizen or lawful permanent resident can change who a person can sponsor. Sponsorship means someone agrees to be financially responsible for their relative if they are approved to come to America or approved for a change in legal status. This means if the person is unable to get work or provide for themselves, their sponsor will assume financial responsibility. Because of this, the petitioner must meet specific financial requirements.
In order to sponsor a relative, a person must either be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident (LPR). Many people can acquire lawful permanent residence faster than U.S. citizenship. Fortunately, once someone has acquired LPR, they can file a Form I-130.
How Can I Acquire Lawful Permanent Residence in the United States?
Holding LPR status is also known as having a Green Card. It allows a person to live and work indefinitely in the United States. If a person gains LPR status, they must abide by certain conditions, such as remaining in the country for at least 180 days to preserve their eligibility for citizenship. There are multiple reasons a person may ask for a Green Card. Some paths to acquiring a Green Card may be different than others. With legal assistance, some routes may be more straightforward. Some of the reasons for a Green Card application may include but are not limited to:
- The Applicant Has Been Approved for Asylum for at Least One Year
- The Applicant has Received a Job Offer to Work in America
- The Applicant has Married a U.S. Citizen
- The Applicant has an Extraordinary Ability
- The Applicant is Reuniting with a Family Member who is a Citizen or LPR
This means, once a person has a Green Card, they may begin sponsoring their family members for their own Green Cards, as long as the initial LPR meets income requirements. This means one person receiving their Green Card can be the first step in the process of reuniting entire families in the United States.
What Do I Need to File an I-130 in Minnesota?
To file an I-130, a person needs to fill out the proper forms. They must also submit documentation along with the I-130 form to meet several criteria. These criteria include but may not be limited to:
- Proof of the Petitioner’s Citizenship or LPR
- Proof of the Petitioner’s Relationship to the Applicant
- Proof of Marriage (for Spouses)
- Proof of the Legitimacy of the Relationship (for Spouses)
- Fees
In order to sponsor a relative, you will need to demonstrate you are actually related to that person and that the relationship is what you claim it is. This means you cannot claim that a cousin or in-law is a sibling. This may require submitting documents such as birth certificates, family photos, or anything else to prove a relationship exists. In the case of spouses, you must confirm your marriage is valid. This may include proving you did not marry your spouse solely so that one party could gain LPR status.
Once you have gathered all the required documentation and filled out the forms, you can submit them along with the filing fee. The fee is $625 when filed online or $675 by mail. Depending on your relationship with the applicant, the time of year you are filing, and the quality of documentation you submit, it could take between ten months and three years for the application to be approved. Just because you file does not mean the application will necessarily be approved. US Immigration may believe a document is missing or not of sufficient quality. This could extend the process even further. You stand a better chance of getting approved without risk of denial if you consult an experienced attorney.
What Should I Do if I Want to Reunite My Immigrant Family in America?
America understands people wish to immigrate here for better lives. They also appreciate that these same people want to bring their families with them. This is why the I-130 process exists. However, the country can only approve so many people per year. The United States also requires people to prove they are genuinely related to the individuals they are sponsoring. This is why an immigration attorney can be the key to helping your family come to America successfully.
If you or a loved one are an immigrant to the US with either US Citizenship or a Green Card and wish to help your family come to America, don’t hesitate to contact SRR Law Group LLC, located at 600 25th Ave South, Suite 104, St. Cloud, MN 56301. The attorneys of SRR Law Group believe everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve the American Dream with their family by their side. They’ll work tirelessly to help reunite families in the United States through the I-130 process. They know all of the requirements of immigration law and can help make the process as smooth and quick as possible for you and your loved ones.
Immigration can be complicated. Being separated from your family during the immigration process can make it a tougher experience. Through the I-130 process, this process can be made easier, and families reunited more quickly. If you or a loved one is a lawful permanent resident or U.S. Citizen and wants to bring their family members to America, immediately contact SRR Law Group at 507-580-7374 or email them to schedule a strategy session. Your path to reunification can begin today.
