Family-Based Immigration Lawyer
Keeping Families Together Through Immigration Law
For most families, staying together isn’t just a priority; it’s a necessity. Yet the immigration process often makes this difficult to achieve. Long processing times, strict eligibility rules, and constantly changing policies create problems that can overwhelm anyone. Working with an experienced family immigration lawyer can help prevent delays, avoid costly mistakes, and reduce the emotional stress that families often face throughout the process.
At Veritas Immigration Law, P.A., our family immigration lawyer in Florida understands family-based immigration law and how it can impact both families and communities. We help our clients and their family members meet deadlines and file immigration petitions that are completed timely, properly, and sufficiently. We are proactive and identify potential issues to be addressed immediately to avoid delays. Contact us at (305) 384-6889 to schedule a consultation today.
Table of Contents
Guiding Families and Businesses with Integrity
At Veritas Immigration Law, we help you navigate U.S. immigration complexities with precision and compassion. Serving Naples and beyond, our dedicated team provides personalized strategies to protect your future.
What Is Family-Based Immigration?
Family-based immigration is a key part of the visa system that allows a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to sponsor non-citizen family members so that they can join the family in the United States. Through this program, visa holders can also lawfully work, attend school, and enjoy other rights and freedoms that U.S. citizens and permanent residents enjoy.
There are two types of family-based visas:
- Immediate relative; and
- Family preference.
Once approved, these visas provide a path to permanent residency, also known as a green card.
Some family-based immigration petitions are filed from the United States. In these cases, the U.S. based family member (the petitioner) submits a petition on behalf of their relative (the beneficiary) to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The petitioner must also pay the relevant processing fees and provide all the necessary supporting documents.
At Veritas Immigration Law, P.A., our family immigration lawyer will guide you through the process, making sure all the necessary documents are filed, persuasive arguments are made, and all deadlines are met.
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late. Request a
Consultation Today!
Family-Based Immigration Categories
Understanding which category your case falls under is crucial; it directly affects processing times, eligibility requirements, and how long your family member may need to wait before obtaining a visa or green card.
Immediate Relatives
The immediate relative category includes the following relatives of a U.S. citizen:
- Spouses
- Widows or widowers
- Unmarried children under 21, including adopted children
- Parents
Immediate relative visas are given priority, and there’s no cap or limit on the number of visas issued each year in this category.
The rules for adjustment of status are also more flexible when it comes to immediate relative visas. Factors that might otherwise prevent someone from obtaining permanent residency, such as overstaying a visa or engaging in unauthorized employment, generally do not apply in this category.
Family Preference
The family preference category is for extended family members of U.S. citizens, as well as certain immediate relatives of U.S. permanent residents.
For U.S. citizens, the family preference visa includes:
- Unmarried children aged 21 or over
- Married children
- Siblings
For U.S. permanent residents, the family preference visa includes:
- Spouses
- Unmarried children
The number of family preference visas available is capped each year, resulting in long wait lists. To help families track progress, the U.S. Department of State publishes a visa bulletin every month, providing updates on visa availability, immigration petitions, and green card processing.
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late. Request a
Consultation Today!
Three Common Family Immigration Challenges
The largest percentage of lawful permanent residents in the United States comes from family-based immigration. Yet, despite its importance, the process comes with several challenges.
1. Visa Caps
While there are an unlimited number of visas for immediate family members, family preference visas are subject to annual caps. This means there can be substantial backlogs and lengthy wait times (years or even decades) for extended family members wanting to immigrate to the United States.
2. Insufficient Evidence
Evidence of a qualifying relationship is necessary for both immediate family and family preference visas. This evidence is especially important when it comes to spouse applications, where the petitioner must prove the marriage is genuine. Gathering sufficient evidence of a relationship can be challenging, especially where official records are limited due differing policies on maintaining records or things like a war, where records have been destroyed.
3. Does Not Include All Family Members
Other extended family members such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and inlaws are not eligible for immediate family or family preference visas. People often assume that family-based immigration applies to any and all family members. In these cases, alternative visa options may be necessary, and consulting a family immigration lawyer can help you determine the best path forward.
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late. Request a
Consultation Today!
How Can A Family Immigration Lawyer Help Your Immigration Case?
Bringing family members to the United States via family-based immigration can be a highly emotive and stressful process. Letting a professional do the heavy work for you can bring both relief and the right results. Here are five reasons why you should consider retaining our family based immigration lawyer.
- Our experienced family immigration lawyer will help you understand what is involved in the immigration process. Plus, immigration rules, regulations, and policies change often, and our immigration lawyer will keep you updated on everything you need to know.
- Time unwasted. Our family immigration attorney can advise you on the right category of visa to apply for and guide you each step of the way. In particular, we can help you complete the application form and compile the necessary supporting documents to ensure your application is properly prepared.
- Delay prevention. As already mentioned, you must meet deadlines or else risk delays or denied petitions. As your legal representative, you will not have to worry about these deadlines because we make sure deadlines are met.
- If your petition is denied for any reason, we can move forward with a strong appeal. We already know the ins and outs of your case. The appeals process can be overwhelming, but we can help make sure a positive outcome is reached.
- Protection of rights. Above all else, we protect the rights of our clients. Throughout the immigration process, you may come across some people who abuse their positions. We will make sure you and your loved ones are treated with respect and dignity and that your rights are upheld to the full extent of the law.
Family Immigration Lawyer Frequently Asked Questions
How long does family-based immigration usually take?
Processing times depend on whether the case falls under the immediate relative or family preference category. Immediate relatives often move faster because there is no annual visa cap. Family preference cases take longer due to yearly limits and backlogs.
Working with a family immigration lawyer helps ensure your petition is filed correctly, so you avoid unnecessary delays.
Can I bring more than one family member to the U.S.?
Yes. Each qualifying family member needs their own petition, and each case is reviewed separately. A family-based immigration lawyer can help you plan the best filing strategy if you are sponsoring multiple relatives.
What happens if my petition is denied?
You may be able to file an appeal, submit a motion to reopen, or pursue another pathway. A family immigration lawyer can review the denial, identify errors or missing evidence, and guide you toward the strongest next step.
Contact A Family Immigration Lawyer Today
Family immigration plays a vital role in keeping loved ones together and strengthening communities. However, managing the immigration process, even for family-based cases, can be complex and overwhelming.
At Veritas Immigration Law, P.A., we provide the guidance and support you need to help your loved ones secure a lawful path to the United States. Contact our family-based immigration lawyer today by completing our online form or calling (305) 384-6889 to schedule a consultation. Let us help you reunite your family and move forward with confidence.
