Family Immigration Attorney Chicago
Family Immigration Attorney Chicago
U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are allowed to petition the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and have their relatives given green cards of their own. However, not all relatives qualify, and the process for those who qualify can be long and complicated. At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, we have family immigration attorneys who routinely obtain these family-based green cards for our satisfied clients in the Chicago area.
Under U.S. immigration law, certain family members of U.S. citizens and family members of green card holders can be given immigration status as green card holders, but who qualifies and how long it takes to obtain the green card depends on under which category the green card is sought between two broad categories: immediate and preference family members.
Immediate Family Members
A person is an ”immediate family member” if they are a close relative of a United States citizen in any of the following relationships:
- Spouse, including same-sex marriage in states that allow it.
- Unmarried child under the age of 21
- A parent, but only if the sponsoring child is over 21 years old
Anyone in any of these relationships can apply for a green card based on the relationship, and their application will be processed much faster than anyone who applies for a green card under any of the other family immigration categories. However, the relative cannot apply for a green card unless their U.S. citizen relative has filed a petition for them which has been approved. The petition can be concurrently filed with the green card application.
Preference Family Members
Preference family members are all other family members who are not immediate relatives. However, even in this case, not all other family members qualify for the green card. Rather, the preference category is for relatives that fall in any of the following family preference categories:
- First preference (F1) – unmarried children of U.S. citizens over the age of 21Â
- Second preference (F2A) – spouses and unmarried children of green card holders who are under the age of 21.
- Second preference (F2B) – unmarried children of green card holders over 21
- Third preference (F3) – married daughters and sons of U.S. citizens; and
- Fourth preference (F4) – siblings of U.S. citizens provided the U.S. citizen is 21 years of age or older.
The Family Immigration Process
The family immigration process begins with the U.S. citizen or green card holder filing Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative with the USCIS. The petition is to have the relative approved for a green card. This petition must be accompanied by evidence to show that the relationship exists and that the relationship is genuine and not for purposes of circumventing U.S. immigration law.Â
If the petition filed is for an immediate relative, then the petition can be filed together with Form I-485 Application to Register for Permanent Resident or Adjust Status. This is the application used to apply for a green card.Â
In all other cases, the green card application card can only be submitted after the underlying I-130 petition is approved.
Seek Help from a Family Immigration Lawyer in Chicago
If you are in the Chicago area and wish to petition for a relative to get a green card or are applying for one, contact us today and schedule an appointment to learn how we can help you.
Meet The Attorneys
What Our Clients Say
5-Star Rating | Based on 200+ Satisfied Customer Google Reviews
We worked with Kevin Raica from Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and I can confidently say he went above and beyond for us. Our process was very long and at times overwhelming, but Kevin guided us every step of the way with professionalism, patience, and dedication. He was always available to answer our questions, explained everything clearly, and made sure we understood our options at each stage. What stood out…
A family friend referred me to work with Maya Flores at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC to help me with my U.S. naturalization. Despite the current immigration tension, Maya helped make the process smooth and her familiarity with procedure helped ease my anxiety. She submitted the citizenship application on my behalf and let me know what to expect. I decided to retain her service for the civics interview as well,…
I really want to thank Justin and Kamila; they are the best. I waited almost 20 years and no one could help me get my green card and in 4 months they helped me get my permit, and I got my green card in less then 4 months. They are the best. I will always be grateful for what they did for me, thank you Justin and Kamila!!!!
I am writing this review to express my deepest gratitude for the hard work on our case by our Immigration Attorney, Lauren McClure and her Paralegal, Kamila Lada. My Green Card was approved! I know this wouldn't have been possible without their expertise and dedication. They both were extremely helpful, responsive, and guided us through every step of the way. Lauren took the time to train us for our interview…
I am incredibly grateful to Mr. Burton for his outstanding legal assistance in my immigration case, from my first consultation he heard me patiently demonstrating exceptional professionalism, expertise, and a genuine commitment to my case. Immigration process can be overwhelming and stressful, but he and his team provided clear guidance every step of the way, always answering my questions promptly and reassuring me with their deep expertise. Thanks to their…
I had an outstanding experience working with Brittni Rivera. From our very first consultation, she demonstrated deep expertise, professionalism, and genuine care for my case. Navigating immigration processes can be incredibly stressful, but Brittni made the entire journey much more manageable and transparent. She were always responsive to my questions, provided clear guidance at every step, and never made me feel like just another case. Thanks to her hard work…
Highly recommend this firm. I had the pleasure of working with Lauren McClure and she is absolutely the best. She was very helpful and walked me through every step of the process, she is patient and she got the job done. I am very grateful with her and her team for helping me with the process of my case. Thank you so much.
I have worked with Kevin Raica for my VAWA application. Let me tell you he has been AMAZING. Unlike other lawyers Kevin has always went above and beyond for me. Kevin is not in it for the money he is in it to HELP people and make a difference. He has walked me through the entire process and always answers any questions I have no matter what. This law firm…
The attorney is an excellent person and very professional. I am very grateful to the entire team—they are attentive to everything, and I consider her the best in all of the U.S. Thank you once again for everything.
Mr. Burton helped my mother with her case. He was always polite, clear, and always answered my questions in a professional and diligent manner. Our case ran smoothly, and we never ran into any issues. I also want to greatly thank the paralegal that also managed my case, Stephanie Nunez, she was always willing and very helpful with my mother, a genuinely good person. I will forever recommend Justin and…
Schedule A Consultation!
Libertyville
Attorney Advertising. This information is designed for general information only. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Past results and testimonials are not a guarantee, warranty, or prediction of the outcome of your case, and should not be construed as such. Past results cannot guarantee future performance. Any result in a single case is not meant to create an expectation of similar results in future matters because each case involves many different factors, therefore, results will differ on a case-by-case basis. By providing contact information, users acknowledge and give explicit consent to be contacted via the methods of communication provided, including SMS. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. Reply STOP to opt out.
NUVEW | Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved | Accessibility Notice | privacy policy