Family-based immigration is one way to become a permanent resident and get your green card.
Getting a Green Card for Your Parents
If you are a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years old, you may be able to petition for your parents to become lawful permanent residents and get their green cards. Depending on your situation, you can file a visa petition for your natural mother, your natural father, your stepmother or stepfather or your adoptive mother and father. An immigration lawyer or green card lawyer can help you determine who qualifies as your parent under immigration law.
One advantage of bringing your parents to the United States as lawful permanent residents is that they may able to then be able to help your brothers and sisters get green cards more quickly be filing a petition for them using the parent-child relationship compared to you filing for them as your brother or sister.
Getting a Green Card for Your Children
Children generally qualify for an immigration visa and a green card if they are the child of:
- a U.S. citizen, and is under 21 years of age
- a U.S. citizen, if the child is over 21 and not married
- a U.S. citizen, if the child is over 21 and married
- a lawful permanent resident, if the child is not married and is under 21, or
- a lawful permanent resident, if the child is over 21 and not married.
Under immigration law, a child can qualify for an immigrant visa as a child of married parents, a child of unmarried parents, a legitimated child of recently married parents, a stepchild or an adopted child.
In some circumstances, children automatically qualify for U.S. citizenship if one parent is a U.S. citizen or becomes a U.S. citizen. An immigration lawyer or green card lawyer can explain the requirements for automatic citizenship to you.
Getting a Green Card for Your Brothers and Sisters
Depending on your situation, you may be able to petition for an immigrant visa and green card for your brother or sister, half-brother or half-sister, stepbrother or stepsister, or adopted brother or adopted sister. Generally speaking, it can take a considerable amount of time before a visa becomes available for your brother or sister – it will likely take at least 10 years before a visa becomes available. You should speak with an immigration lawyer or green card lawyer to review options for helping your brother or sister immigrate more quickly.
Getting a Green Card for Your Spouse or Fiance
Contact an immigration lawyer or green card attorney for assistance with your family-based immigration visa.
The Schaefer Law Firm accepts clients that need a green card lawyer for representation before the Arlington Immigration Court, the Baltimore Immigration Court, the Arlington Asylum Office, the Washington Field Office and the Baltimore Field Office. I also accept clients from throughout the Washington, DC metro area, including Northern Virginia, Maryland, Annandale, Arlington, Alexandria, Baileys Crossroads, Baltimore, Bowie, Burke, Chantilly, College Park, the District of Columbia, Dulles, Greenbelt, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fort Myer, Fort Washington, Frederick, Herndon, Hyattsville, Largo, Leesburg, Loudoun County, Manassas, Montgomery County, Prince Georges County, Prince William County, Reston, Rockville, Seven Corners, Silver Springs, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner, Upper Marlboro and Woodbridge.
Return to the DC Immigration Lawyer | Schaefer Law Firm home page.