If you are looking for a way to become an American citizen, a family-based immigration petition might be the answer. This law empowers citizens and permanent residents of the United States to petition for their family members living abroad to become citizens of the United States. Immediate family members of immigrants such as an unmarried child, parent, or spouse can apply for a visa number to obtain residency through a green card. However, other relatives are provided with a priority date after the family-based immigration petition is filed.
Navigating the Family-based Immigration Process
Apply for entry into the United States through a family-based immigration petition with the assistance of our Philadelphia law firm and you will likely be provided with a visa number. However, this number does not mean you are approved for residency in the United States. A distinct residency application is to be made through the immigration visa consular at a consulate or embassy abroad. Alternatively, filing the Adjustment of Status Application will be required. The specific process mandated for obtaining a visa ultimately hinges on the individual’s unique immigration history.
Requirements for a Visa Through a Family-based Immigration Petition
A family member of an immigrant to the United States seeking a visa has to meet certain criteria in order to be approved. The applicant must be eligible to file the visa application. Furthermore, the candidate must be admissible to the country, meaning he or she does not have any immigration violations. Finally, the applicant must be an immediate family member of the immigrant who has successfully become a United States citizen.
As an example, the offspring of an immigrant in the United States who is 21 years of age or older is not considered an immediate family member in the context of a family-based immigration petition. The offspring must be under the age of 21 and unmarried to qualify for citizenship through this unique route.
However, there is the potential for preference category relatives to be granted citizenship. If the applicant is an unmarried son/daughter over the age of 21, a married son/daughter, or the sibling of an adult citizen in the United States, applying in categories F1 to F4 can lead to citizenship.
The Visa Petition
An immediate family member of an immigrant who has become a lawful permanent resident of the United States can qualify for citizenship through an immigrant visa petition submitted to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS for short. If the petition is approved, the petition is subsequently sent to the National Visa Center.
An immigrant visa application is then submitted to the United States Department of State with the necessary supporting documentation. A visa interview conducted at the U.S. consulate sets the stage for the granting of the immigrant visa. A green card is then mailed to the applicant in the following weeks.
Schedule an Appointment With Voloshen Law
Do not attempt to obtain citizenship on your own. This challenge will prove that much easier with the guidance of our Philadelphia immigration law attorney. Reach out to us today to find out more about how we can help you become a citizen through a family-based immigration petition or another means. You can contact our Philadelphia immigration law firm by phone at (215) 437-7854 or reach us online through our contact form.