Family Petitions
U.S. citizens and permanent residents may file petitions on behalf of family members who live abroad and want to come live in the United States. These petitions are filed with the Immigration Service of the United States.
For a foreign relative to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, he/she must meet the following requirements:
- The relative must have a close relative who is a citizen or legal resident of the United States. he/she needs to be able to verify the relationship between himself/herself and the citizen or legal resident of the United States.
- A U.S. citizen can file a petition on behalf of a spouse, parents, siblings, or married/unmarried children of any age. Spouses, unmarried children under 21 years of age, and parents are considered immediate relatives, and they are able to establish residence in the United States in an expedited manner. Other family members, unmarried children over 21 years of age, married children of any age, and siblings fall into different categories and it can take longer for them to establish residence. This depends on the preference category which the relative falls under. For example, the expected waiting time for siblings is at around ten years or so, as per the category which they fall under.
- A legal resident of the United States can apply on behalf of his/her spouse and unmarried children of any age. These relatives fall into the second category and waiting time for spouses and unmarried children under 21 is four years. Unmarried children who are older than 21 years of age can expect a waiting period of nine years.
Contact us to begin the application as soon as possible. The process of immigration in the United States is complex and can take many years to complete. We at Gomez & Uzcategui understand how important it is for you to bring your loved ones to the United States as quickly as possible. It is a great honor for us to have already helped many families achieve this mission.
