About Our Family Services
We offer an array of legal services to families who need assistance navigating the immigration process.
Navigating the process of immigration for your family members is complicated, but we work hard to find creative solutions tailored to each situation we’re presented with. We believe that your family matters and we use our knowledge, creativity, and the experience of real-world situations to make the path to legal status an option for your loved ones.
What We Do
Petition for Alien Relative (I-130)
Fiancé/e Visa (K-1)
Dependent Visa (H-4 Visa)
Waiver of Inadmissibility (I-601)
Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver (I-601A)
Adjustment of Status (I-485)
Consular Processing
Parole in Place
Removal of Conditions
Petition for Alien Relative (I-130)
U.S. citizens and permanent residents may file a family-based immigration petition on behalf of foreign national relatives. Depending on the legal status of the petitioner and the nature of the relation, foreign national relatives fall into categories of immediate relatives or preference relatives and are given different levels of priority.
Immediate relatives are considered the spouses, children (unmarried and under 21 years of age), and parents of U.S. citizens. There is no wait time for the availability of a visa number for immediate relatives.
Preference relatives are considered the married and unmarried sons and/or daughters (over 21) of U.S citizens; siblings of U.S. citizens; and spouses, minor children, and unmarried sons and/or daughters (over 21) of permanent residents. There is a strict limit on the number of visa numbers that are issued each year to preference relatives, so a wait time is likely for these family members.
Youngblood & Associates has ample experience in representing individuals who are navigating the family-based immigration process for or through their relative. We can assist you in the multiple steps of filing your petition, as well as representation throughout the process of your case.
Fiancé/e Visa (K-1)
U.S. citizens may petition for a K-1 nonimmigrant visa (fiancé/e visa) for their foreign national fiancé/e so that they may seek admission to the country on a temporary basis. The K-1 visa permits entry to the U.S. for 90 days. The foreign national fiancé/e must marry their U.S. citizen petitioner within those 90 days for the foreign national to be eligible for lawful permanent resident status (a Green Card).
You may be eligible to petition for the K-1 fiancé/e visa if:
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You are a U.S. citizen
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You and your fiancé/e are intending to marry within 90 days of their entry to the U.S. on the K-1 fiancé/e visa
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You are your fiancé/e demonstrate a bona fide intent to establish a life together and are both legally able to marry in the U.S.
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You and your fiancé/e met in person at least once during the 2-year period before your filing of the petition
Your petition is the first step in a multi-step process, including your fiancé/e’s actual application for the K-1 nonimmigrant visa, a visa interview for your fiancé/e at a U.S. Embassy or consulate, inspection at a port of entry, marriage within 90 days of your fiancé/e’s admission to the United States, and their application for lawful permanent residence (a Green Card) after marriage.
We know that the immigration process for a foreign national fiancé/e is complex and multi-faceted. Youngblood & Associates will guide, assist, and represent you throughout the K-1 process and adjustment of status to a permanent resident.
Dependent Visa (H-4 Visa)
If an individual is the dependent spouse of a temporary worker, they may file an application for an H-4 visa to seek permission to enter and reside in the U.S. during their spouse’s H visa validity period.
If you are the spouse of an H-2 visa holder, the H-4 visa allows you and your children to reside in the United States but does not qualify you for work authorization. If you are the spouse of an H-1 visa holder, however, you are also eligible to receive work authorization under the H-4 visa.
If you are the spouse of a temporary worker, Youngblood & Associates can assist you in filing for the appropriate H-4 visa so that you may reside in the United States with your spouse.
Waiver of Inadmissibility (I-601)
If an individual is considered inadmissible to the United States and is seeking an immigrant visa, adjustment of status, or certain other immigrant statuses or benefits, they must first apply for a waiver of grounds of inadmissibility.
An individual may be considered inadmissible to the U.S. due to health, criminal reasons, national security reasons, likelihood of becoming a public charge, lack of labor certification, fraud or misrepresentation, prior removals, and/or unlawful presence.
Foreign nationals who are not eligible to adjust their status in the United States are required to travel abroad to obtain an immigrant visa and typically need to wait to apply for the waiver of inadmissibility until after they have appeared for their immigrant visa interview abroad.
However, if you are eligible to adjust your status and still need a waiver of inadmissibility, you may not need to leave the country to do so. For information about applying for a waiver of inadmissibility for unlawful presence before traveling abroad for your immigrant visa interview, read about the “Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver (I-601A).” At Youngblood and Associates we can help determine which is the appropriate waiver for you and assist you in the process of applying.
Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver (I-601A)
Individuals are found inadmissible to the United States if they have had unlawful presence in the country for more than 180 days. This inadmissibility must be waived before an immigrant visa may be obtained.
Traditionally, individuals have needed to wait to apply for a waiver of inadmissibility until after they have appeared for their immigrant visa interview abroad and have been determined inadmissible by a Department of State consular officer.
However, the provisional unlawful presence waiver exists for individuals who only need a waiver of inadmissibility for unlawful presence before applying for an immigrant visa. This provision allows people to apply for the waiver before leaving the U.S. for their visa interview. This shortens the amount of time that families are separated while relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are seeking immigrant visas to become lawful permanent residents themselves.
You may be eligible for the provisional unlawful presence waiver if:
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You are at least 17 years old
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You are physically present in the United States to apply
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You are in the process of obtaining your immigrant visa and have a pending case
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You can prove that being denied admission to the U.S. will result in extreme hardship for your U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or parents
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You believe that you are inadmissible only because of unlawful presence in the U.S.
For help determining if you are eligible to apply for the provisional unlawful presence waiver, contact us at Youngblood and Associates. We will advise you on which path is appropriate for your situation, assist you in applying for your waiver, and represent you throughout the process of seeking legal status in the United States.
Adjustment of Status (I-485)
You may apply for lawful permanent residence, also known as a Green Card, when you are already in the United States by going through the adjustment of status process. You do not need to return to your home country to complete the process.
The eligibility requirements to apply for a Green Card differ based on which immigrant category you are applying under. Our team at Youngblood and Associates is well-versed in these categories and eligibility requirements and can assist you in determining if you are eligible to apply for adjustment of status. We will advise and represent you throughout the process of applying for a Green Card and becoming a permanent resident.
Consular Processing
If you are outside of the United States, you may apply for lawful permanent residence, also known as a Green Card, at a U.S. Department of State consulate. This is called consular processing.
You may be eligible to apply for an immigrant visa through consular processing if:
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You already have an approved immigrant petition
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An immigrant visa number is immediately available to you
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You are outside of the United States
Youngblood and Associates can help guide you through the steps of seeking an immigrant petition, determine if you are eligible to apply for a Green Card, and assist you in seeking legal status through consular processing.
Parole in Place
If you are the immediate family of a U.S. armed forces member, veteran, or enlistee, you may be granted parole in place to remain lawfully present in the U.S. with your family member. Parole in place is granted in 1-year increments. It enables recipients to work and obtain a driver’s license and may even enable you to qualify for adjustment of your status to a legal permanent resident, also known as a green card.
You may be eligible for parole in place if you are the spouse, son or daughter, parent, or widow(er) of either:
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An active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces;
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An individual of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve; or
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An individual (still living or deceased) who formerly served on active duty or in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve and was not dishonorably discharged
Youngblood and Associates can help to determine if you are eligible to request parole in place, then assist and represent you throughout the process of applying.
Removal of Conditions
An individual can receive a 2-year Green Card as a conditional permanent resident, based on marriage or entrepreneurship. During the 90 days before this Green Card expires, however, you must file a petition to remove the conditions in order to remain a permanent resident.
Timeliness is important. The conditional card cannot be renewed and if you do not remove the conditions, you will lose your permanent resident status.
Youngblood and Associates will represent you throughout the process of applying for a petition to remove the conditions and maintaining your permanent resident status.