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Family-Based Immigration

Bringing Families Together

Reuniting with your loved ones should be a joyful experience - not a stressful or overwhelming journey. Whether you are bringing a spouse, fiancé(e), child, parent, or sibling to the U.S., we are here to guide you through every step with personal attention and care. Your family’s future matters - and we make it our mission to protect it.

Marriage-Based Petitions and Green Cards

If you’re married to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, you may qualify for a green card based on your relationship.

To qualify, you must:

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  • Be legally married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder

  • Prove your marriage is genuine and not entered into solely for immigration purposes

  • Pass background and medical checks

  • Be admissible to the United States (no serious immigration or criminal issues, unless waived)

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We help couples collect the necessary documents, prepare for interviews, and present strong, honest evidence that supports your relationship and eligibility. Whether you’re applying from inside the U.S. or abroad, we’ll guide you every step of the way.

Fiancé(e) Visas (K-1 Visas)

The K-1 visa allows a U.S. citizen to bring their foreign fiancé(e) to the United States for the purpose of getting married. Once your fiancé(e) enters the U.S. on this visa, you must get married within 90 days and then apply for a green card through adjustment of status.

To qualify for a K-1 visa, you must:

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  • Have a U.S. citizen fiancé(e)  (not just a green card holder)

  • Intend to marry your fiancé(e) within 90 days of their arrival in the U.S.

  • Have met your fiancé(e) in person at least once in the past two years (with some exceptions)

  • Both be legally free to marry

  • Prove that your relationship is genuine and not for immigration purposes

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We help you file the petition (Form I-129F), prepare evidence of your relationship, and support your fiancé(e) through the interview process abroad—all while making sure your timeline and documentation are handled with care.

Removal of Conditions on Permanent Residence (I-751)

If you received your green card through marriage and it was granted conditionally (valid for two years), you must file Form I-751 to remove those conditions and receive a 10-year green card. This process is crucial to maintaining your lawful status in the U.S.

To qualify, you must:

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  • File within 90 days before your conditional green card expires

  • Prove that your marriage is genuine and ongoing (if filing jointly), or

  • Request a waiver if you are divorced, widowed, or were subjected to abuse

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Even if your circumstances have changed, you may still qualify to remove the conditions. We carefully evaluate your situation, gather strong supporting evidence, and represent you through any interviews or challenges that may arise. Your future here shouldn’t be left to chance.

Family-Based Petitions (Parents, Children, and Siblings)

U.S. immigration law allows citizens and green card holders to sponsor certain family members for permanent residence. These petitions fall into two groups: Immediate relatives and family preference categories.

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Immediate Relatives (of U.S. citizens only):

  • Parents (petitioner must be over 21)

  • Unmarried children under 21

  • Spouses (covered under marriage-based green cards)

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Family Preference Categories include:

  • Unmarried adult children (over 21) of U.S. citizens

  • Spouses and unmarried children of green card holders

  • Married children of U.S. citizens

  • Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (petitioner must be over 21)

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To qualify:

  • The sponsoring relative must file Form I-130 and prove a qualifying family relationship

  • Both the sponsor and beneficiary must meet eligibility and admissibility requirements

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Wait times vary significantly depending on the family relationship and country of origin. We guide families through complex priority dates, documentation, and multi-step processes.

Adjustment of Status (AOS)

Adjustment of Status allows certain immigrants already in the U.S. to apply for a green card without leaving the country.

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You may qualify if:

  • You entered the U.S. legally (with inspection)

  • You have an approved immigrant petition (or are filing one at the same time)

  • A visa is available in your category (immediately available for immediate relatives)

  • You are not subject to any bars to adjustment (such as unlawful presence, unless waived)

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We help you determine eligibility, file Form I-485 correctly, and avoid common pitfalls that could delay or jeopardize your application.

Waivers of Inadmissibility

(I-601 / I-601A)

Sometimes, even if you qualify for a family-based green card, a past immigration violation, unlawful presence, or certain criminal issues may make you "inadmissible"—which means you can’t get a green card unless you first receive a waiver. We help clients apply for these waivers by building strong, compelling cases that show the hardship your U.S. citizen or green card–holding relative would suffer if you were denied.

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You may need a waiver if you:

  • Were unlawfully present in the U.S. for more than 180 days before departing

  • Have a prior deportation, misrepresentation, or certain criminal convictions

  • Are applying for a visa or green card but were found inadmissible at your consular interview

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To qualify, you typically must:

  • Have a qualifying U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or parent

  • Show that they would suffer extreme hardship if you’re not allowed to stay or return

  • File Form I-601 or I-601A depending on your situation

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We handle both provisional waivers (I-601A) for those applying from within the U.S. and traditional waivers (I-601) for those processing abroad.

 

These cases are deeply personal—and we treat them with the compassion and legal strategy they deserve.

Consular Processing

Consular Processing is the path for applying for a green card from outside the U.S. through a U.S. consulate or embassy.

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You may use consular processing if:

  • You are the beneficiary of an approved immigrant petition

  • A visa number is available in your category

  • You are located abroad or ineligible for Adjustment of Status

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The process involves filing Form DS-260, submitting supporting documents to the National Visa Center (NVC), attending a medical exam, and completing an in-person interview at a consulate. We assist clients through each step to reduce delays and prepare thoroughly for the visa interview.

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