Family Immigration

St. Cloud Family Immigration Lawyer

Helping Clients Bring Family Members to the U.S.

Whether you were born in the United States or immigrated here in recent years, you might have close family members in another country who want to join you in the U.S. Depending on your immigration status and your relationship with them; you might have the chance to make their American dream a reality through the family-based immigration process.

Of course, immigration laws in the U.S. are known for being difficult to understand unless you have years of experience dealing with them, so it’s best to talk to knowledgeable attorneys about your case. At SRR Law Group LLC, we’ll review your situation to determine whether you can sponsor your family members for immediate relative visas or family preference visas, so contact us to learn more.

What Are Immediate Relative Visas?

There are two main immigration programs that allow families to reunite in this country. The preferred option is the Immediate Relative visa program, which is only available to the close relatives of U.S. citizens.

If you’re a U.S. citizen, you can sponsor the following immediate relatives to immigrate with this visa:

  • Your spouse
  • Unmarried children under 21 years old
  • Your parents, as long as you’re 21 or older

If your family relationships meet the above criteria, you can petition for your relatives to come to the U.S. You’ll need to apply for an immigrant visa first so they can enter the U.S. Once they arrive, you can file for an adjustment of status so they can become lawful permanent residents. This will give them green cards, allowing them to live in the U.S. and eventually apply for citizenship.

A skilled St. Cloud immigration attorney can assist you with applying for visas for your immediate relatives so they can become green card holders. Trusted attorneys can also inform you of other family immigration options if your immigration status or family relationships don’t qualify for the Immediate Relative visa program. Contact our Minnesota immigration law firm today to speak with an experienced attorney who can advise you on your immigration issues.

What Are Family Preference Visas?

If you’re a lawful permanent resident who wants to bring your immediate relatives to the U.S., your family members would be preference category immigrants, which means that you must use the Visa Bulletin to determine when a visa is immediately available to you. This program is available to permanent residents who hope to petition for family members to achieve permanent residence in this country.

The application process is similar whether you’re a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen, but the family relationships eligible for a green card differ depending on your immigration status. In particular, if you’re a lawful permanent resident, you can use this program to sponsor your immediate relatives, such as your spouse and minor children. On the other hand, this program allows other relatives, such as siblings, of U.S. citizens to immigrate to the United States.

Another detail to know about this family immigration program is that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services only approves a limited number of these visas each year unless the family member is an immediate relative, so you should expect a waiting period before your family members can become green card holders. The visas are approved in a specific order based on the family relationships of lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens. The preference categories include:

  • First preference (F1): The unmarried adult children of citizens
  • Second preference (F2A): The spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents
  • Second preference (F2B): The adult unmarried children of lawful permanent residents
  • Third preference (F3): The married children of citizens, along with their spouses and minor children
  • Fourth preference (F4): The siblings of citizens, along with their spouses and minor children, as long as the citizen is 21 or older

If you’re not sure which preference category your family member would fall into or how to start your application, call our Minnesota immigration law firm to speak with an attorney. We understand how confusing the immigration laws are and how intimidating it is to contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, so we want you to know we’re here to help you get your family member to the U.S. as soon as possible.

What If Your Spouse or Fiancé Lives Abroad?

If you’re in a marriage or engagement with an immigrant living outside the country, you can petition to bring them to the U.S. with the help of a St. Cloud immigration attorney. After all, there are a few visas that are specifically meant to grant green cards to the spouses and fiancés of citizens and lawful permanent residents.

For example, if you’re a U.S. citizen married to an immigrant for at least two years, you can apply for the IR-1 visa to get them a green card. If you’ve been married for less than two years, the CR-1 is available to you and your spouse. If you’re a lawful permanent resident, the F2A visa allows your spouse to obtain permanent residence, as well.

On the other hand, if you’re a U.S. citizen engaged to an immigrant, you can petition for a K-1 visa. This visa allows your fiancé to enter the country. As long as you get married within 90 days after they enter, you can adjust their status so they get a green card.

With any of these marriage visas, you’ll be expected to prove that your marriage is valid and based on love and commitment, not immigration fraud. If you’re worried about how to prove this, contact our Minnesota immigration law office for help preparing to file paperwork, undergo interviews, and submit evidence to strengthen your case.

Are You Ready to Call a Minnesota Family-Based Immigration Lawyer?

If you want to get a green card for a spouse, parent, child, or other family member living outside the country, contact SRR Law Group LLC today. We have years of experience helping families reunite within the U.S., so we’re confident we can assist you regardless of your specific immigration issues.

We know how important it is to keep families together when possible, which is why we’ll work hard to get your loved one the green card they need to live in the U.S. with you. If you’re ready to learn how we use our knowledge of immigration laws to bring immigrants to this country, call our St. Cloud law office at 507-580-7374 for a consultation with a compassionate attorney.