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Immigration

Family Immigration & Green Cards

Sponsoring a spouse, parent, child or sibling. I-130 petitions, adjustment vs. consular processing, waivers, and how to find a family immigration lawyer.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents can petition for close relatives, but the path depends on the relationship, the relative’s current status and how they entered. Spouses of citizens inside the U.S. may adjust status in months; siblings may wait over a decade; anyone with unlawful presence may need a waiver before leaving for a consular interview. A lawyer chooses the right route and avoids the traps that separate families.

What a family immigration lawyer does

  • Files I-130 petitions and I-485 adjustment or consular packages
  • Prepares I-601/I-601A waivers for unlawful presence and other grounds
  • Documents bona fide marriages and prepares couples for interviews
  • Removes conditions on two-year green cards and handles fiancé(e) visas

When you need a family immigration lawyer

  • You married a non-citizen, inside or outside the U.S.
  • Your relative entered without inspection or overstayed
  • A prior petition was denied or a marriage interview is scheduled
  • You want to bring a parent, child or sibling from abroad

Questions to ask before you hire a family immigration lawyer

  1. Can my relative adjust status here, or must they process abroad?
  2. Will a waiver be needed, and what are the approval odds?
  3. How long will the whole process take realistically?
  4. Does my income meet the affidavit-of-support requirement?

Find a family immigration lawyer near you

Choose your state to see listed firms and the official bar directory for verifying any lawyer’s license.