Essay On Family Immigration

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As an immigration lawyer in the Lewisville area, I have many clients who are U.S. citizens who want to bring one or more family members from their country of origin to live with them in the United States. Unfortunately, as with every other area of U.S. immigration law, the laws relating to family immigration are complicated and it can be hard for my clients to understand that there are many steps, often time-consuming steps, involved in bringing someone to live in the United States. If you are a U.S. citizen seeking to bring a loved one to the U.S., here are some basic things you need to know:


You May Petition For Immediate Relatives And Other Family Members
As a U.S. citizen, you may petition for immigration for immediate relatives and …show more content…

citizens
Siblings of adult U.S. citizens
Spouses and unmarried children (under age 21) of green card holders
Children (unmarried and over age 21) of green card holders


How The Process Of Family Immigration Begins
How the process of immigration begins depends on whether or not your relative is already in the U.S. If your family member is already in the U.S. and a visa number becomes available, they can apply to become a green card holder using Form I-485. If they reside outside of the U.S., your petition will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC), which will forward it to the U.S. consulate in the country in which your relative resides. Once a visa number becomes available, the consulate will tell your relative what the next steps are.


The Wait Time For Processing Petitions Varies
The wait time for processing immigration petitions varies, depending on the category the person being petitioned for falls into. The process for immediate relatives takes less time than for other family members. Generally, cases are processed in the order in which they are received. For more detailed information on processing wait times, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s (USCIS)

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