Family petitions
Bringing a relative home through a family petition
A U.S. citizen or permanent resident can ask the government to let close relatives live here. We prepare that petition, and the green card application that follows it.
Who you can petition for depends on your own status. A citizen can file for a spouse, children of any age, parents, and brothers and sisters. A permanent resident can file for a spouse and unmarried children. Some relatives finish the process here; others interview at a consulate abroad, and some need a waiver first. We tell you which path is yours before you pay a single filing fee.
What goes into a family case
- 01
The petition
Form I-130, filed by you for your relative, with proof of your own citizenship or residence.
- 02
Proof the relationship is real
Birth and marriage records, translated where needed, and for spouses, photos, leases and joint accounts that show a shared life.
- 03
The affidavit of support
Your promise that you can support your relative, with your tax returns. If your income falls short, a co-sponsor can sign with you.
- 04
The green card itself
An application filed here when the law allows it, or a consular interview abroad when it doesn't. We prepare you for either.
Questions about family petitions
How long does a family petition take?
It depends on the relationship and the country. Spouses, minor children and parents of citizens don't wait in line for a visa, so their cases move fastest. Brothers and sisters, and married sons and daughters, can wait many years. We look up the current wait for your category at your first meeting.
Can my relative stay in the U.S. while the petition is pending?
A pending petition, on its own, doesn't give anyone permission to stay or to work. Whether your relative can wait here depends on how they entered and what status they have now, which is one of the first things we check.
My spouse entered without inspection. Is there still a way?
Often there is, but it usually means a waiver and an interview abroad. A provisional waiver, filed before your spouse leaves, can shorten the time apart. Don't let anyone send your spouse to an interview until a lawyer has reviewed the whole history.
Ask about your family's petition
Bring what you have: birth and marriage records, any letters from USCIS, and a copy of your relative's passport if you have one.