Arlington Immediate Relative Visa Lawyer
The process of obtaining any type of visa can be extremely lengthy depending upon the circumstances of the applicant’s legal status. Luckily, there are legal advocates who may be of help to your case. If you are looking to help an immediate relative obtain a visa, it may be worthwhile to retain the services of a knowledgeable attorney. An Arlington immediate relative visa lawyer could review the details of your case and help you and your family achieve the results you want.
How to Legalize a Family Member’s Stay in Arlington
To help a family member stay in the U.S., the petitioner (family member of the person applying for an immediate relative visa) must discern whether they would be filing a petition as a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident. This should be done with the assistance of an Arlington immediate relative visa lawyer.
U.S. citizens are permitted to petition for their parents, spouses, children, married and unmarried adult sons and daughters, as well as siblings. On the other hand, lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) are only permitted to petition for parents, spouses, children, and only unmarried adult sons and daughters. This means that it is critical that eligibility is determined before filing. The relationship that the petitioner has with their family member would affect the kind of petition for which they can apply and whether an adjustment is possible
The petitioner should also consider the status of the family member when they entered the U.S. Entering as a tourist allows the family member to remain in the U.S. for up to six months from their date of entry. If they entered as an F-1 student visa holder, then the family member is permitted to remain in the U.S. for as long as they maintain their status as an F-1 student. To remain in lawful status, the family member would have to file extensions or maintain the requirements of their status.
Helping Non-Immediate Relatives
If the family member is not an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, a person can still file the petition Form I-130 for them. However, they will either have to go back home to wait for their visa to be available or change their immigration status to remain in the country while they wait.
Length of Time it Takes for a Relative to Obtain Permanent Resident Status
The amount of time it takes for a beneficiary immediate relative to obtain permanent residence status varies. A person may be able to track the processing time by going to the USCIS website and checking case processing times. Usually, the estimated wait time ranges from 11 to 20 months. With this in mind, the applicant should make sure that they check their case status online using their receipt number.
If the immediate relative is doing consular processing abroad, then they would still have to check the processing time for the Form I-130. They may then have to wait for the National Visa Center (NVC) to get their approved I-130 form, pay the fees, submit the required immigrant visa application, and bring documents to their scheduled interview to enter the US after the visa is approved. For more questions about the length of time it may take for a relative to acquire a visa, call an Arlington immediate relative visa lawyer.
What to do Following an Approved Application
After the family member has been approved, there are several things that happen next. Assuming that the family member is an immediate relative in the United States, they should have submitted the Form I-485 at the same time as the Form I-130 petition submitted by the petitioner. They should then wait for the Green Card to arrive in the mail after approval. If for one reason or another, only the Form I-130 was filed on behalf of the family member, then the beneficiary immediate relative should file the Form I-485 along with the approval notice for the Form I-130.
If the beneficiary of the immediate relative is overseas, they would have to wait for the National Visa to receive the beneficiary’s approved I-130 and thereafter submit the immigrant visa application, fees, police clearances, and additional documents. They would then be interviewed at the U.S. consulate or embassy that is nearest to them. After their application has been approved, they would then have to enter the United States before the expiration of their visa is printed on their passport.
Contacting an Immigration Attorney in Arlington Today
Acquiring legal permanent residence in the United States is a monumental event in the life of an immigrant. However, some people might never get the chance to experience this due to the fact that it is incredibly difficult to legally immigrate to the U.S. without the help of a family member.
With this in mind, immigrants with relatives in their native countries may feel the need to help their immediate relatives migrate to the U.S. via the means of their own legal status. If this sentiment applies to you, contact an Arlington immediate relative visa lawyer to learn what you can do for your family members.