Green Card through Family:

  • Many people get Green Cards (become permanent residents) through family members. You may be eligible to get a Green Card as:

    • An immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, this includes spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21, and parents of U.S. citizen petitioners 21 or older;
    • A family member of a U.S. citizen fitting into a preference category, this includes unmarried sons or daughters over the age of 21, married children of any age, and brothers and sisters of U.S. citizen petitioners 21 or older;
    • A family member of a green card holder, this includes spouses and unmarried children of the sponsoring green card holder;
    • A member of a special category, this can include battered spouse or child (VAWA), a K nonimmigrant, a person born to a foreign diplomat in the United States, a V nonimmigrant or a widow(er) of a U.S. Citizen.

    A Green Card holder (permanent resident) is someone who has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, a person is granted a permanent resident card, commonly called a “Green Card.”  You can become a permanent resident several different ways. Most individuals are sponsored by a family member or employer in the United States. Other individuals may become permanent residents through refugee or asylee status or other humanitarian programs. In some cases, you may be eligible to file for yourself.

    You may be eligible to apply for a green card (permanent residence) through your family, a job offer or employment, refugee or asylum status, or a number of other special provisions. In some cases, you may even be able to self-petition or have a record created for permanent residence on your behalf. In general, to meet the requirements for permanent residence in the United States, you must:

    Some relatives of U.S. citizens, known as immediate relatives, do not have to wait for a visa to become available. There is no limit to the number of visas that can be utilized in this category in a particular year. Immediate relatives include:

    • Parents of a U.S. citizen
    • Spouses of a U.S. citizen
    • Unmarried children under the age of 21 of a U.S. citizen

    Note: U.S. citizens must be at least 21 years old to apply for their parents.

    The qualified relatives of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in the remaining family-based categories may have to wait for a visa to become available before they can apply for permanent residency. These categories include:

    • First Preference: Unmarried, adult (21 years of age or older) sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
    • Second Preference A: Spouses of permanent residents and the unmarried children (under the age of 21)) of permanent residents.
    •  Second Preference B: Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years or age or older) of permanent residents.
    • Third Preference: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, their spouses and their minor children.
    • Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens, their spouses and their minor children.

    Requirements:

    The steps to becoming a Green Card holder (permanent resident) vary by category and depend on whether you currently live inside or outside the United States. The main categories are:

    • Green Card through Employment
    • Green Card through Marriage
    • Green Card through Family
    • Green Card through a Job
    • Green Card through Refugee or Asylee Status

    If you are already a Green Card holder, we can assist you with the following:

    • Renewing or replacing your Green Card
    • Removing conditions on a Green Card
    • Travel outside the United States

    How we can help you:

    At the Law Office of Moona Shakil, an experienced senior attorney would help preparing your Green Card through Family Application.  Our immigration attorney would consult with you to discuss your options.  Our mission is to provide prompt, high quality legal services to benefit the lives of our clients. We handle almost all types of immigration visas, and our attorneys understand that communication is a key to success. You need confidence that your lawyer understands your problem and is working with you to achieve results. Call us to find out how we provide superior service to our clients.

     

    Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice. The use of the information on this website creates no attorney client relationship between the user and the Law Office of Moona Shakil, PLLC or its attorneys. There is no substitute for a face to face consultation with a lawyer. If you have legal questions, you must contact an experienced attorney immediately.

    Email or call us for a consultation 703.920.9500