Family Based Immigration

The Department of State Reciprocity Schedule is a crucial resource for anyone involved in the U.S. immigration process, whether you are petitioning for an immigrant relative, the Beneficiary in a petition, or filing for a non-immigrant status. This article shall provide details on the reciprocity schedule, explaining what it is, how it works, and why...

Starting August 19, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting online applications for its new Parole in Place program, introduced under the “Keeping Families Together” initiative. This program is designed to assist non-citizen spouses and stepchildren who entered the U.S. without proper admission or parole. By granting temporary Parole in Place, these individuals...

This article initially set out to compare the pros and cons of filing an Immigrant Petition for a foreign national spouse (Form I-130) versus a fiancé(e) visa (Form I-129F). However, while reviewing the estimated processing times on the USCIS website, the path is no longer clear.  In general, fiancé(e) visas had a shorter processing time,...

In June we reported that the Biden administration had announced a parole-in-place program to help unite families.  This new initiative aimed to benefit those married to a U.S. Citizen who had entered without admission or parole and had continuously resided in the U.S. for at least 10 years as of June 17, 2024. Although precise...

On June 17, the Biden administration unveiled a new initiative allowing certain spouses of U.S. citizens to apply for “parole-in-place” through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  Although marriage to a US Citizen allows a foreign national to obtain a green card, those without a legal entry are forced to leave the U.S. and return...

Consular Processing versus Adjustment of Status for Spouses For many foreign nationals married to U.S. citizens (USC) or lawful permanent residents (LPR), the ultimate goal is to obtain permanent residency in the United States. However, the process of achieving this status can vary significantly depending on whether the individual pursues Consular Processing or Adjustment of...

Family reunification is a core principle of the U.S. immigration system, allowing American citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) to sponsor their close relatives for green cards. This process can be complex, with various visa categories and specific requirements. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore who can petition for family members, the different...

Securing a green card via a family sponsor entails the Petitioner, either a US Citizen or US Permanent Resident, initiating a petition for their spouse, parent, child/son/daughter, or sibling. This petition is filed using Form I-130, known as the Petition for Alien Relative. Regardless of the relationship basis for the petition, the following list highlights...