What is family-based immigration?
The immigration law allows U.S citizens and lawful permanent residents to sponsor certain family members for a permanent resident visa, also known as a green card. Obtaining a green card will allow its holders to live and work anywhere in the United States and qualify for U.S. citizenship after three or five years.
Family immigration accounts for almost 65 percent of legal immigration to the United States every year. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1965 formally recognized family ties as the main way people can immigrate to America.
Who is eligible for a family-based immigration?
Immediate relatives: Immediate Relative Green Card does not have an annual limit. As long as the sponsors and applicants are eligible, visas are readily available.
- IR-1: Legal Husband or Wife of a U.S. citizen
- IR-2: Unmarried child under 21 years of age of a U.S. citizen
- IR-3: Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. citizen
- IR-4: Orphan to be adopted in the U.S. by a U.S. citizen
- IR-5: Parent of a U.S. citizen (petitioner must be at least 21 years old)
Family preference categories: This category has a numerical cap limiting the available visas per year. AS soon as the annual cap is reached, the rest of the applicants will have to wait until the next fiscal year.
- F-1 (Family First Preference): Unmarried sons and daughters of a U.S. citizen, and their minor children, if any
- F-2 (Family Second Preference): Spouses, minor children, and unmarried sons and daughters (age 21 and over) of lawful permanent residents
- F-3 (Family Third Preference): Married sons and daughters of a U.S. citizen, and their spouses and minor children
- F-4 (Family Fourth Preference): Brothers and sisters of a U.S. citizen, and their spouses and minor children (petitioner must be at least 21 years old)
Applying for a Family-Based Immigration
The sponsor must be over the age of 18 and is currently residing in the U.S. He or she must file a petition for his family members with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The petition should prove that their relationship is legitimate and that the sponsor meets the income requirements. A signed affidavit of support declaring that the sponsor will be financially responsible for the applicants should be submitted along with the petition. Each family member or relative sponsored in the petition then undergoes extensive security and background checks for any criminal records and health-related screenings.
As soon as the USCIS approves the petition, it will be handed over to the National Visa Center. NVC will facilitate the forms, documents, and fees to be completed by the applicants. After accomplishing all the required forms and documents, the U.S. Embassy will assign an officer to conduct the interviews of the applicant to qualify and determine their eligibility. And finally, all applicants must undergo medical examinations and vaccinations before issuing their visas. All medical exam expenses are shouldered by the applicants, apart from the Visa fee itself.
Ineligibility
To protect the welfare, health, and security of the United States, the immigration law strictly defines the conditions in which the applicants will be denied with their visa applications.
Applicants with a communicable disease, mental disorder, records of drug addiction, and have committed serious criminal acts like terrorism, subversives.
Seeking Legal Help
Although the process of applying for a Family-Based immigration Visa may seem relatively simple, it is advisable to consult an attorney before taking any steps further. This is to ensure that you have properly checked your eligibility, both for the sponsor and the applicant to avoid getting denied. Important documents such as proof of relationship legitimacy and proof of income are very critical factors for your visa approval.
There are thousands of immigration cases pending and you do not want to add yours to the pile, so make sure that all your documents and submitted requirements are updated in line with what is requested by the USCIS and NVC.
by Prozco®