Every year, thousands of people from countries all over the world immigrate to the United States. They come for educational opportunities, better jobs, or the chance to live in a society that values freedom and individual expression. Whatever the reason, one of the hardest parts for many immigrants is leaving family members behind in their home country.
Fortunately, immigrants who become U.S. citizens or permanent residents can take advantage of pathways to sponsor other eligible family members to join them in the United States with a permanent resident card, also known as a Green Card. As a group, they are called family immigrant visas, but there are many different types.
A consultation with a Murfreesboro family immigration lawyer is the best way to find out if you are eligible to apply for one of these types of visas. Call today to set up a consultation and discuss your situation with one of the experienced immigration attorneys at Youngblood & Associates.
Immediate Relative Visas
For many people who immigrated from another country, their highest priority is to help close family immigrate to the United States. Applying for the immediate relative visa is the first step in helping immigrants who have become U.S. citizens bring their spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21, or parents to live in the United States. Specifically, the IR1 and CR1 visas are for spouses, the IR2 is for eligible children, and the IR5 is for parents. There are an unlimited number of immediate relative visas available each year. For help with applying for this type of visa, schedule a meeting with a seasoned family immigration lawyer in Murfreesboro.
Family Preference Visas
U.S. citizens can apply for family preference visas to sponsor family members who are not eligible for immediate relative visas. Legal permanent residents of the United States, or Green Card holders, may also use family preference visas to help family members immigrate to the U.S.
There are a limited number of family preference visas available each year. U.S. citizens can apply for:
- F1 visas for unmarried children who are 21 years of age or older
- F3 visas for children who are married
- F4 visas for siblings
Legal permanent residents of the U.S. may apply for F2A visas for spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 or F2B visas for unmarried children who are 21 years of age and up. If there are questions about which visa is correct, a Murfreesboro family immigration attorney can provide advice.
Sponsoring a Family Member for Permanent Residency
Whether a person is applying for an immediate relative visa or a family preference visa, they must submit United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-130. A form must be submitted for each person the U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident is sponsoring. For example, if a U.S. citizen wants to bring their parents to the United States as legal permanent residents, they would need to file for an IR5 visa and submit Form I-130 for both their mother and their father.
Consult a Murfreesboro Family Immigration Attorney for Visa Assistance
The process of helping a relative immigrate to the United States has many steps along the way. Using a family immigrant visa can be the best path forward for many situations, but it will only be successful when the visa sponsor and the visa applicant both fulfill all of the relevant requirements. The process can be different if the relative is already visiting the U.S. or traveling from the home country. Furthermore, relatives immigrating to the U.S. will need to prepare for immigration interviews.
If you are in the Murfreesboro area and you hope to sponsor family members to immigrate to the United States, the best way to ensure that you aren’t missing any steps is to consult a Murfreesboro family immigration lawyer. Our attorneys can help guide you and your relatives through the process and answer any questions that may arise during the application period.
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