The U.S. is recognized for the various opportunities available, giving those from other countries the freedom they are seeking and the ability to become successful. Perhaps those are the two main reasons why so many foreign nationals want to immigrate here from other countries. While some may have to go through an extensive process so they can receive the clearance to enter, others have family living in the country who can petition for them to obtain lawful permanent status here in the U.S.
What does it mean to have lawful permanent status?
Being a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. means a person was granted permission to enter the U.S. and they meet all the requirements to either live and work here permanently. There are two ways you can help them obtain the necessary documentation that would permit them to be a lawful permanent resident, however, the process and the timeline to receive these documents varies based on your current status.
So, you need to ask yourself, are you a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident yourself? As a U.S. citizen, you can file a petition for the following relatives:
- Your husband or wife.
- Children, married or unmarried.
- If you are 21 years of age or older, you can file a petition for your parents or siblings.
You would be required to file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in order to get this process initiated. This form is used to prove you have a qualifying relationship with this person.
[Source: USCIS].While a spouse, single children under 21, and parents are able to receive permission to enter and live in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident after the required documentation is filed and approved, other relatives are subject to waiting an extended period of time before they can be granted the same permission.
If you would like to learn more about how you can help your family member enter into the U.S. or have their current status adjusted to a permanent resident, the Atlanta immigration lawyers at Kuck Immigration Partners are available to help you. There is a process you must go through involving filing detailed paperwork and our immigration and green card attorneys want to be sure you submit everything in a timely manner, free from errors.
Understanding the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
If you weren’t aware, family unification is one of the key principles found in the U.S. immigration policy. According to the Congressional Research ervice, 990,553 foreign nationals were admitted into the U.S. in 2013 of which 649,763 were admitted based on family ties. That is 66% of the individuals who entered. Although immigration law is currently changing and new laws are taking effect, you should be aware of the laws that can help you get a relative of yours into the U.S. or have their current status changed to a more permanent one.
If you would like to speak with a skilled immigration lawyer in Atlanta to become more aware of the process required to help your relative become a lawful permanent resident, call us at 404-816-8611 today.
Hola mi preguntas es :Es verdad que yo no puedo aplicar para la residencia?mi esposo es ciudadano americano somos casados yo tengo 2 niñas nacidas aquí y un niño nacido aqui que es hijo de mi esposo y yo tenemos ya mas de 2años de casados.Consulte mi caso con un abogado y me mando pedir toda mi información y después de revisarlo dijo que no podía aplicar y solo tengo la opción de salir del país,el problema que ellos dicen esque hace 16 años cruce la frontera inmigración me detuvo 1ves y hace 11 años fui a mi país y volví a regresar inmigración me detuvo 3 veces ,no tengo deportación según ellos pero por la veces que he sido detenida ellos dicen que ya no aplico aunque mi esposo es ciudadano quisiera saber si eso es verdad muchísimas gracias y espero me resuelvan mi duda.
Ellos abogados son correctos. Es ud. prohibido de inmigrar bajo la ley corriente hasta que vive en su pais for 10 anos.