Every year, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office receives several million applications for visas that would allow someone to temporarily reside in the country, apply for permanent residency, or become a naturalized citizen. The Immigration and Naturalization Act caps the number of permanent residents that can be admitted on an annual basis. One of the only ways around this is through a family member exception for current United States citizens and permanent residents. This can be a complex process, and it is important to retain skilled Elkhart family-based immigration lawyers.
At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, we have over four decades of experience helping family members get their U.S. visas and residency status.
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets forth two categories of family-based immigration visas that can be issued to family members of a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen. These are:
If you are an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, the good news is, these types of visas are unlimited and not subject to any caps under current immigration laws. To qualify as an immediate relative, you must be a:
If you do not qualify as an immediate relative, you would need to apply under a family preference immigration visa, which does have limitations per category. If you are a permanent resident rather than a U.S. citizen, the number issued each year is even lower.
Family preference visas are divided into these categories:
Just because you are related to someone does not mean you automatically qualify to apply for a visa. Those relatives who do not qualify under either category include:
If you need assistance with bringing a family member to the United States, you need to speak with skilled Elkhart family-based immigration lawyers who can assist with the process. Contact our knowledgeable team of attorneys at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC today to schedule a consultation.