You Can be Reunited in America ◊ Family Immigration Attorneys
Located in Newark, New Jersey and serving clients nationally and internationally, The Law Offices of Raymond D'Uva provides experienced, reputable representation in matters related to family immigration. Founding attorney Raymond P. D'Uva has more than 30 years of experience handling family immigration matters. Among our attorneys and staff, our firm can accommodate speakers of English, Italian, Hebrew, Russian, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
For an initial consultation, call us today at 973-718-2232 or contact our offices online.
Are You Eligible for Preference Under Family Immigration?
Not everyone with a family member in the United States is able to use that relationship as a basis for immigration. Eligibility depends on the immigrant's relationship with the family member, and the family member's status in the United States. In most cases if you are an immediate family member of a U.S. citizen, your relative can file an Immediate Relative Petition to allow you to become a lawful permanent resident ("green card" holder). Immediate relatives include spouses of citizens, parents of citizens who are at least 21 years old, and the unmarried, minor (under 21 years old) children of citizens.
Other family-based immigration categories provide an opportunity for foreign nationals to obtain lawful permanent residence; however, there are a limited number of such visas available, and different types of relationships receive different priority in the issuance of these visas. In order of preference, these categories are:
- Unmarried adult children (21 years of age or older) of U.S. citizens
- Spouses and unmarried children (under age 21) of lawful permanent residents
- Unmarried adult children (21 years of age or older) of lawful permanent residents
- Married children (any age) of United States citizens
- Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens
Other Family-Based Immigration Benefits
Fiancés/Fiancées of United States citizens may, under certain circumstances obtain K-1 visas to allow them to travel to the U.S. to marry their U.S. citizen fiancé/fiancée. Although the K-1 visa is a temporary or "nonimmigrant" visa, once the fiancé/fiancée enters the U.S. and marries the United States citizen, which must take place within 90 days of entry, he/she can apply to adjust status to obtain a green card. Children of the primary K-1 visa holder may accompany their parent to the U.S. as K-2s, and may adjust to lawful residence together with their parent once in the U.S.
Family members (spouses and children) of other nonimmigrant visa holders such as executives and managers of multinational companies (L-1s), temporary professional workers (H-1Bs), students (F-1s) as well as other nonimmigrant categories, may usually obtain temporary "nonimmigrant" visas to accompany their spouse or parent to the United States and live, study, and, in some circumstances, work here while their spouse or parent remains here in their temporary visa status.
If you do not currently have legal immigration status in the United States you may nonetheless be eligible to adjust your status to that of a lawful permanent resident ("green card holder") based on a family relationship depending on the manner of your entry into this country and depending also on whether you are covered by section 245i of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Section 245i of the Immigration and Nationality Act which expired on April 30, 2001 provides an opportunity to certain foreign nationals who currently do not have lawful status in this country and who would otherwise not be eligible to apply for lawful status to do so under certain conditions. Consult with a qualified immigration lawyer to learn more about your options.
To schedule an initial consultation with an attorney at The Law Offices of Raymond D'Uva, call us today at 973-718-2232 or contact us online. We look forward to helping you begin a new life in the United States.
