Family Immigration

Family Immigration Lawyers
Richmond and Washington, DC Law Office Locations

At Dyer & Hwang, P.C., we have found that family members seeking to bring a spouse, child, parent, sibling or fiancée to the United States have two primary questions regarding permanent residency and a family visa:

Who can I petition for? How long does it take?

The answer to the first question is relatively straightforward. The second question is more difficult.

Who can I petition for?

U.S. citizens can petition for their parents, spouses, minor children (unmarried and under 21), unmarried/married sons and daughters and siblings for green cards. They can also petition for fiancés under K-1 and spouses under K-3. The green card requires the filing of an I-130. The K visa requires the filing of an I-129F.

Green card holders can only petition for spouses, minor children (unmarried and under 21) and unmarried sons and daughters. They can also sponsor a spouse and minor children (unmarried and under 21) under the V visa category. The green card requires the filing of an I-130. The V visa requires the filing of a Form I-539 if the family member is in the country. Otherwise, the family can apply directly with the U.S. embassy if abroad.

How long does it take?

Waiting is the hard part in obtaining a family visa. The length of the wait depends upon the four immigration preferences:

• First Preference: Unmarried, adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. Adult means 21 years of age or older.
• Second Preference: Spouses of lawful permanent residents, their unmarried children (under twenty-one), and the unmarried sons and daughters of lawful permanent residents.
• Third Preference: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
• Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens.

Some of these preferences are immediate (the spouse of a US citizen) and others can take ten or twelve years (fourth preference). The current estimate of government processing times is posted on the Internet.

As a law firm with offices in Richmond and McLean in metro Washington, DC, our family immigration lawyers and well-trained staff are not only knowledgeable; we are also well connected with the various government agencies. There is a great deal of conflicting information on the Internet, even on government sites, regarding family visas. Our law firm makes it our business to do handle the applications and all other matters in a detailed, accurate, and speedy fashion. In addition to familiarity with K visas, V visas and green cards, our law firm also has experience with international adoptions, and other citizenship and permanent residency matters.

If you are in need of a family visa for yourself or a relative, we urge you to call or contact our Richmond immigration law firm to schedule an appointment.

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