Family Preference Immigrant Visas in Prince William County
A family-sponsored preference immigrant visas or family preference immigrant visas are visas for people who are not immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. These are individuals who have to wait for a visa to become available in order to apply for lawful permanent resident status (a Green Card) through adjustment of status if they are lawfully present inside of the United States, or apply for an immigrant visa if they are outside of the United States to be able to enter and then receive their Green Card.
The purpose of family preference immigrant visas in Prince William County is to allow for other types of family members of U.S. citizens to enter the United States or for family members of permanent residents to apply to enter the United States. To learn more, or for help with obtaining this type of visa, schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable immigration attorney today.
How Does One Obtain a Family Preference Immigrant Visa?
If a non-immediate family member is in the United States and has an I-130 filed on their behalf, then what needs to be determined is whether they will be able to maintain their non-immigrant status throughout the process of applying for adjustment of status, which can take years, and whether a visa is immediately available based on their category. Every month, the Department of State releases a visa bulletin. This bulletin describes how many visas are available for each family preference category. If a visa is available as shown in the visa bulletin, based upon the date the I-130 was filed then the non-immediate family member can pursue an adjustment of status application. If the non-immediate family member is abroad (or not lawfully present in the U.S. making them ineligible for adjustment of status) then they will be able to begin preparing for the filing of their immigrant visa and to be interviewed at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.
Is it Possible to Legalize a Family Member’s Stay When They Visit?
If the family member is eligible to apply for adjustment of status and decides to come to the United States on a tourist visa in hopes of receiving their Green Card while in the United States, they may not be able to obtain their Green Card before their tourist visa expires and may be found to have misrepresented the purpose of their visit by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Usually, tourist visas will only allow individuals to stay in the United States for no longer than six months. However, the adjudication process for a Green Card is much longer than six months, which means that the individual will fall out of status before they receive their Green Card.
There is the possibility of extending their stay as a tourist in the United States, but they have to establish good cause. Alternatively, if the person who is the non-immediate relative is in the United States on an F-1visa, which is a student visa, then that person may be able to adjust their status because a student visa because they have a longer period of stay. Therefore, so long as they meet the criteria for maintaining their status as a student, will be able to go ahead and adjust and change from F-1 to lawful permanent resident.
Contact a Prince William County Family Preference Visa Attorney for Help
If you require assistance with obtaining family preference immigrant visas in Prince William County, be sure to get in touch with a skilled attorney today. A lawyer can explain to you the process of obtaining this visa as well as the various categories of family members who can apply for this visa. In addition, an attorney can help you avoid making crucial mistakes that can prove to have a detrimental impact on your application. As a result, you should not delay in getting in touch with an attorney.