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Family immigration

Family Immigration

At SFR Law Corporation we are happy to help families to reunite. Let us alleviate your anxieties and share your happiness of having your family together.

FAMILY BASED IMMIGRANT VISAS

If you are a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States, and you want to bring your close family members to the United States; you may be able to help a foreign family member obtain permanent residency.

Family-based immigration requires the participation of at least two family members, a petitioner and a beneficiary. The petitioner must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident who wants to bring a family member to the United States. The beneficiary is the foreign family member who wants to migrate to the U.S. to live permanently.

 

The beneficiaries of a U.S. Citizen can be:

  • The spouse

  • Unmarried Children Under 21 Years of Age 

  • An adopted child

  • A parent, if the U.S. Citizen is at least 21 years old

  • Unmarried sons and daughters, and their minor children

  • Married sons and daughters, and their spouses and minor children

  • Brothers and sisters, and their spouses and minor children, provided the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years of age

 

The beneficiaries of a Legal Permanent Resident can be:

  • The Spouse of an LPR- green card holder

  • Unmarried Children Under 21 Years of Age

  • Unmarried sons and daughters age 21 and over

 

 

At SFR Law Corporation we love the smiles of reunited families. Let us ease your anxieties and share your happiness of having your loved ones with you.


Note: Same-sex couples and their minor children are eligible for the same immigration benefits as opposite-sex spouses.

Adjustment of Status

Adjustment of status is the process that a person, who is already in the United States, can use to apply for lawful permanent residency (also known as applying for a Green Card).

 

Permanent Residency is desirable because once obtained you have permission to live and work in the United States for as long as you want to. Additionally, it is the path to citizenship.

 

A Permanent Residency Status is different from a visa. A visa is limited by time and purpose; whether the permanent residency allows you to live in the United States for as long as you want, and to switch jobs, go back to school, open a business, etc.

 

There are different ways in which you may apply for Permanent Residency, the most common categories are:

  • Family-based application

  • Employment-based application

  • Entrepreneur-based application

  • Asylum-based applications

  • Victims of crime applications

What happens after I have filed a petition?

For your peace of mind, you should know that you will maintain valid status in the United States while your Adjustment of Immigration Status application is being processed. Additionally, you will obtain a work permit.

 

As allowing somebody to become a permanent resident brings many benefits, the process for adjustment of status can take from several months to more than a year. It requires biometrics, a medical examination, and a formal interview. Don’t be discouraged, SFR Law Corporation will be with you at every step of the way; keeping you informed of your process and giving you quality legal support.

 

Remember, with the security of having the correct immigration status, you can expand your life’s opportunities.

Visas for Fiancé(e)s of U.S. Citizens

If you are thinking on a Fiancé(e) visa that means you are currently engaged, or soon to be engaged to a United States Citizen, congratulations!


To bring your fiancé(e) to the United States you need to obtain a K-1 nonimmigrant visa, also known as a Fiancé(e) visa. The Fiancé(e) visa will allow a foreigner to enter the United States; however, this visa will not allow your fiancé(e) to live in the United States indefinitely. Rather, it will only allow your fiancé(e) to enter on a temporary basis.


If you are engaged, what naturally follows is the big day. Under a Fiancé (e) visa you will need to marry within 90 days after your fiancé(e) entered the United States. Once married, your spouse can apply to adjust their status to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, so you can spend your lives together.

What Do I Need to Obtain a Fiancé(e) Visa?

The first step to obtaining a K-1 nonimmigrant visa is to file Form I-129F, Petition For Alien Fiancé(e).  A Fiancé(e) visa is approved if you can show to the government that you and your fiancé(e) have a bona fide intent to establish a life together, and the future marriage is not for the sole purpose of obtaining an immigration benefit. You may do so by showing a bona fide relationship and that you and your fiancé(e) intend to marry each other within 90 days of your fiancé(e) entering the United States.

 

You can establish the bona fide requirement by pictures, letters, posts, and any other evidence of the relationship between you and your fiancé(e), additionally, you need to fulfill the following requirements:

  • The petitioner is a United States citizen.

  • You and your fiancé(e) intend to marry one another within 90 days of your fiancé(e)’s admission to the United States 

  • You and your fiancé(e) are both legally free to marry 

  • You and your fiancé(e) met each other in person at least once within the 2-year period before you file your petition. (There are special waivers if you do not meet this requirement)

  • The petitioner needs to show sufficient income to support the fiancé(e) when s/he arrives in the United States. 

  • The non-American fiancé(e) should not be convicted of certain crimes (although certain crimes can prevent the issuance of a visa, not all crimes will prevent it).

 

USCIS is aware of and tries to prevent forced marriage and marriage for fraud; thus USCIS pays special attention to the evidence sent and filed when petitioning a Fiancé(e) Visa. Failure to provide adequate evidence when filing can prevent the petition from being approved.

 

SFR Law Corporation is here to guide you through every step of this process; making sure your visa process is stress-free, and you focus on enjoying your big day instead of worrying about paperwork. Again, Congratulations on your engagement!

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