immigrationnews's Journal: Family Based Petitions or Family Sponsorships

If you have a family member living in the US and youre thinking of immigrating, you can file your application under the Family Sponsorships or Family Based Petitions. If this relative is either a husband or wife, then you can apply for spousal sponsorship. These sponsorships, however, are not limited to a spouse but are extended to include relatives like a child, sibling, or parent living in the United States.

Family Sponsorships or Family Based Petitions through a child, parent or sibling normally take about two or more years to process. If you want your petition speedily processed and approved, hire an immigration lawyer from a reputable immigration law firm to advice and assist you in your application. Immigration attorneys not only provide you with the correct information needed to file the application they also make sure that the process does not take longer than necessary before it gets approved. Since the process takes a long time, the immigration lawyer makes sure that it does not get held up and gets approved as soon as possible.

Sponsoring a Relative to the United States

There are certain criteria that must be met before your relatives petition is finally approved, and it involves you, the petitioner. Your income, for instance, must reach a certain percentage above the poverty line. This is very important since you are pledging to take financial responsibility for your relative once he/she enters the country. Another important criteria concerns your legal status. The immigration requires petitioners to be a citizen of the United States or a legal permanent resident before approving any petition for sponsorship. Your relative also have to be medically examined by an INS accredited physician, and signed a document declaring that he/she is not a terrorist. Once the petition is approved, your relative is given the status of a permanent resident. The entire lengthy process takes place while the relative is outside the US. In some instances that the relative is already in the country, he/she can apply for an Adjustment of Status or AOS. An AOS approval, however, is sometimes harder to get.

If you have a family member living in the US and youre thinking of immigrating, you can file your application under the Family Sponsorships or Family Based Petitions. If this relative is either a husband or wife, then you can apply for spousal sponsorship. These sponsorships, however, are not limited to a spouse but are extended to include relatives like a child, sibling, or parent living in the United States.

Family Sponsorships or Family Based Petitions through a child, parent or sibling normally take about two or more years to process. If you want your petition speedily processed and approved, hire an immigration lawyer from a reputable immigration law firm to advice and assist you in your application. Immigration attorneys not only provide you with the correct information needed to file the application they also make sure that the process does not take longer than necessary before it gets approved. Since the process takes a long time, the immigration lawyer makes sure that it does not get held up and gets approved as soon as possible.

Sponsoring a Relative to the United States

There are certain criteria that must be met before your relatives petition is finally approved, and it involves you, the petitioner. Your income, for instance, must reach a certain percentage above the poverty line. This is very important since you are pledging to take financial responsibility for your relative once he/she enters the country. Another important criteria concerns your legal status. The immigration requires petitioners to be a citizen of the United States or a legal permanent resident before approving any petition for sponsorship. Your relative also have to be medically examined by an INS accredited physician, and signed a document declaring that he/she is not a terrorist. Once the petition is approved, your relative is given the status of a permanent resident. The entire lengthy process takes place while the relative is outside the US. In some instances that the relative is already in the country, he/she can apply for an Adjustment of Status or AOS. An AOS approval, however, is sometimes harder to get.

Spousal Sponsorships

Spousal sponsorship is a subset of the Family Sponsorships or Family Based Petitions. This usually involves an American citizen marrying a foreign citizen, which gains them entry into the country. The American spouse-to-be first applies for a visa with the immigration while the fiancé is outside the US. Upon its approval, fiancee then enters the US on a fiancée visa. Fiancee visas, however, have expiration dates, usually 60 days. You have to get married within that time frame or else your fiancee risks being deported. Once married, you have to submit new documents proving your marriage to the INS for Change of Status. A year after your application, your spouse is granted the right of abode. Two years after, he/she is granted permanent resident status. The sponsored spouse can now stay legally in the country whether or not you stayed married to each other. If the fiancé already resides in the US, he/she may apply for an AOS after your marriage.

Why you Need an Immigration Attorney to Help

The timeframe for application of legal permanent residence takes a long time and the process can become somewhat complicated. Thats why you need the help of an immigration attorney to get you through all these hurdles. Immigration attorneys help you file the correct documents for your application. They will also advice you about supplemental information to give the INS. The immigration lawyers main role is to ensure that your application is processed, reviewed, and speedily approved at the shortest time possible.

Spousal sponsorship is a subset of the Family Sponsorships or Family Based Petitions. This usually involves an American citizen marrying a foreign citizen, which gains them entry into the country. The American spouse-to-be first applies for a visa with the immigration while the fiancé is outside the US. Upon its approval, fiancee then enters the US on a fiancée visa. Fiancee visas, however, have expiration dates, usually 60 days. You have to get married within that time frame or else your fiancee risks being deported. Once married, you have to submit new documents proving your marriage to the INS for Change of Status. A year after your application, your spouse is granted the right of abode. Two years after, he/she is granted permanent resident status. The sponsored spouse can now stay legally in the country whether or not you stayed married to each other. If the fiancé already resides in the US, he/she may apply for an AOS after your marriage.

Why you Need an Immigration Attorney to Help

The timeframe for application of legal permanent residence takes a long time and the process can become somewhat complicated. Thats why you need the help of an immigration attorney to get you through all these hurdles. Immigration attorneys help you file the correct documents for your application. They will also advice you about supplemental information to give the INS. The immigration lawyers main role is to ensure that your application is processed, reviewed, and speedily approved at the shortest time possible.