Immigration-Family

Help Your Family Enter or Remain in the United States

We offer a personal consultation regarding your family's immigration situation. We work with you to evaluate whether you or a member of your family may qualify for a family-based visa and a "green card."

Generally, citizens or legal/lawful permanent residents ("LPR") can apply for family-based visas for certain family members to live in the United States. Spouses, fiancés, children and parents of U.S. citizens often qualify for visas more quickly than adult children and siblings of U.S. citizens, and spouses and children of "green card" holders. Fiancés of U.S. citizens also qualify for a visa to enter the U.S

To find out more about family-based visas, call us at 617.399.7770, or contact us online.

Family-Based Visa Qualifications

In order to qualify for a family-based immigration visa or "green card":

  • Your family relationship must be a qualifying relationship according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

  • As a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, you file, or "petition," for your qualifying relative using form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative or form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé.

  • Generally after the I-130 or I-129F is approved, your qualifying relative files for a "green card" or lawful permanent residence using form I-485, Application for Adjustment of Status, or a DS-230, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration.

The time to process immigrant petitions depends in various factors. For example, petitions for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens generally process in about a year. For other relatives, such as the adult children and siblings of U.S. citizens and spouses and children of LPRs, the process can take up to 15 years. Within these timeframes, an experienced immigration lawyer strives to ensure your petition is processed accurately and in a timely manner.

Visas for Victims of Crime

Abused spouses of U.S. citizens and LPRs may be eligible for green cards through a set of laws called "VAWA." VAWA also provides U-visa and T-visas for aliens who are victims of certain crimes or human trafficking.

Additional Immigration Services

Our offices can also assist you with the following:

Visite nuestra página de inmigración en español.

Contact Us

To learn more about family-based immigration and the process of getting a visa and green card, call an attorney at 617.399.7770. Complete and submit the attached  contact form with any questions you may have for us.