Family immigration visas enable United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to sponsor specific family members, allowing them to emigrate from their home country. After receiving their Green Cards, they can live and work permanently and enjoy other benefits of immigrating to the United States.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Department of State oversee the processing and approval of applications. For help understanding the different Union City family immigration visa categories, contact the Law Office of Lloyd E. Bennett, Esq., P.C., to speak with an experienced immigration attorney today.
To sponsor a family member, you must be at least 18 years old, live in the U.S., and be able to establish your family relationship. This means providing documentation such as birth certificates, adoption records, and marriage licenses to prove your familial connection. Eligible sponsors can also demonstrate that they meet the threshold to financially support their relatives after they leave their home country.
Citizens may sponsor immediate family members without annual limits and more distant relatives under preference categories, with limitations. Green Card holders are eligible to sponsor spouses and unmarried children. However, they cannot sponsor parents, married children, or siblings.
Beneficiaries must have a qualifying family relationship with a sponsor who is a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident. They must also pass a background check that shows them to have no serious criminal history, prior immigration violations, or health issues that pose a public health risk.
The beneficiary’s age and marital status may affect which family category they fall under. Understanding which entry permit group your relative falls under and their eligibility requirements is important when applying for a visa in Union City.
Family immigration visas fall within two primary groups: immediate relatives and family preference. For immediate relatives, there is no limit to the number of visas the U.S. government issues each year. Family preference, however, is subject to annual quotas, often resulting in backlogs and prolonged wait times.
The immediate relative visa categories include:
The wait times and availability for family visas in these groups vary depending on the specifics of the individuals immigrating to Union City.
Family preference category visas may be available for relatives of U.S. citizens and Green Card holders. These visa types include:
The number of visas issued in the family preference category is capped at approximately 226,000 visas per year.
Family immigration visas enable U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to bring their family members into the country for reunification. This process can be exciting, but it is often long and frustrating.
A practiced lawyer can significantly improve your experience by providing professional legal advice and guidance throughout. Contact the Law Office of Lloyd E. Bennett, Esq. P.C. today to learn more about Union City family immigration visa categories.
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