Citizens of other countries ("foreign nationals") who wish to permanently reside and work in the United States (immigrate) must become "lawful permanent residents" (i.e. get their "green card.") Foreign nationals may be eligible for lawful permanent resident status if they have family members who are U.S. Citizens or lawful permanent residents.

The U.S. government classifies foreign nationals seeking to immigrate based on a family relationship as 'immediate' relatives or 'other' relatives. Immediate relatives include:

·       Spouses of U.S. Citizens

·       Unmarried minor (under 21) children of U.S. Citizens

·       Parents of U.S. Citizens over age 21

The United States government does not limit the number of immediate relatives eligible for lawful permanent resident status. By contrast, the United States Government does limit the number of 'other' relatives eligible for lawful permanent resident status and issues green cards in the following preferential order:

First:

·       Unmarried adult (21 or over) sons and daughters of U.S. Citizens

Second:

·       Spouses of Lawful Permanent Residents

·       Unmarried minor children of Lawful Permanent Residents

·       Unmarried adult sons and daughters of Lawful Permanent Residents

Third:

·       Married sons and daughters of U.S. Citizens

·       Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. Citizens

The application process is a multi-step procedure and generally takes about a year for immediate relatives and up to several years for other relatives. Some eligible relatives may be able to enter and work in the United States under non-immigrant visas while their applications are pending.

If you are interested in becoming a lawful permanent resident by virtue of a family relationship, please call, e-mail, or submit an online questionnaire. We can answer your questions, determine if you are eligible for family-based immigration, and guide you through the application process. There is no charge for your initial consultation. We will quote you a fee after learning the details of your case.

The foregoing information is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered a substitute for seeking legal advice from an attorney.

For more detailed information regarding family-based immigration, you may also visit the official website for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services at www.uscis.gov.