Immigrants living in California can petition for their family members to join them as legal immigrants. However, their family members must meet certain qualifications before they can apply for a visa. Here’s how immediate family members can apply to join their relatives in the United States.
How can immigrants petition for their family to join them in the United States?
Family members can apply for two types of visas: immediate relative visas and family preference visas. There’s no limit to the number of immediate relatives who can apply for a visa. However, they must be the spouse of a U.S. citizen, the unmarried child of a citizen, a child who was adopted by a U.S. citizen or the parent of an adult U.S. citizen. If they meet these qualifications, they can apply for a visa and start the family immigration process.
Other family members can apply for a visa, but their options are more limited. Only a certain number of family preference visas can be requested each year. An individual might qualify for a family preference visa if they’re the unmarried child of a U.S. citizen with children of their own, the married child of a U.S. citizen with a spouse and children who also want to become citizens, or the sibling of a U.S. citizen. They can also apply for a family preference visa if they’re the child or spouse of a legal permanent resident.
How might an attorney help your family immigrate to the United States?
The laws surrounding immigration to the United States may be difficult to understand, and they change frequently. Fortunately, an attorney may be able to help your family members apply for visas and immigrate legally to the United States. An attorney may help with other issues like applying for citizenship, applying for a green card and more.