Who Qualifies for a Family-Based Immigrant Visa
The family-based immigrant visa is used by non-citizens of the United States countless times on an annual basis. It is a great way for a family to come together to the United States legally, when some may be living in the country and others in a foreign location. Achieving citizenship in the United States can be accomplished through many avenues. Our Jacksonville FL lawyer professionals understand the family-based immigrant visa process and can help see if you qualify and what steps to take.Two types of family-based immigrant visas exist. The first is the immediate relative immigrant visa and then there are the family preference immigrant visas. Both of these work in much the same way. The only difference between them is that the immediate relative one has no limits on how many times it can be used annually.
Immediate Relative Immigrant Visa
The immediate relative immigrant visa is going to be utilized based on close family relationships with a United States citizen. If you fall into this category, you are going to be known as an immediate relative. An immediate relative immigrant visa has several categories underneath it.The first category is if you are a spouse of a United States citizen or have children under 21 years of age in a foreign country that are unmarried. If a U.S. citizen adopts an orphan abroad, they also qualify for this type of visa. Orphans in the process of being adopted by a U.S. citizen, as well as a parent of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old qualify for this visa.The catch with this type of visa is that it is based on immediate family. If you have an immediate family member in the United States, based on this criteria, you are more likely going to be able to get a visa into the country to be with them.
Family Preference Immigrant Visa
The other type of visa is the family preference immigrant visa. These visa types are going to be for more distant familial relationships. It is going to be limited by the number of times it can be used across the U.S. annually, but it is another sound medium to work with your Jacksonville FL attorney about gaining entry into the country legally. They are broken down by family first, second, third, and fourth preference.First Preference: This is going to be an unmarried son or daughter of a United States citizen, along with their children.Second Preference: The second category is going to cover spouses, minor children, as well as unmarried sons and daughters over the age of 21 to a legal resident.Third and Fourth Preference: These are going to cover sons and daughters of citizens who are married already, along with their spouses and any minor children they may have. Brothers and sisters, along with their spouses and minor children, also fit under these choices. There are plenty of opportunities to qualify for one of these types of visas and the subcategories that fall underneath them. Work with us at Berlin Law because our Jacksonville FL attorney professionals can assess your unique situation and work with you throughout the filing process. No one said it was going to be easy to get your family into the United States with you legally, but the process is more than worth the work that needs to be put in for those who have done it.