Family petitions
Bring your family here, or keep them here
Petitions that let U.S. citizens and permanent residents sponsor a spouse, child, parent, brother or sister, and the green card applications that follow.
Most family cases are careful paperwork: proof of the relationship, proof of income for the affidavit of support and a medical exam. We check every page against the current USCIS form before it goes in, and we prepare you for the interview in the language you'll use there.
Who can sponsor whom
Citizens: spouses, children, parents, brothers and sisters
Permanent residents: spouses and unmarried children
Waivers when a past entry or stay is a problem
What a family case can include
Petition for a relative
The first filing, Form I-130, which proves the family relationship to USCIS.
Green card in the U.S.
Adjustment of status for relatives already here who can finish the process without leaving.
Consular processing
When your relative applies abroad, we prepare the National Visa Center file and the interview.
Affidavit of support
The income forms a sponsor signs, and a joint sponsor when the income falls short.
Waivers
Asking USCIS to forgive a past overstay or entry, with the hardship evidence it needs.
Removing conditions
The joint petition due two years after a marriage-based green card.
Fees
Our fee for a family case
We set it by your household income and by how many forms your case needs, and we write it down at the consultation, item by item.
- Petition for a relative: a flat fee, quoted in writing
- Green card application in the U.S.: a flat fee, quoted in writing
- Waiver: quoted at the consultation, with payments over time
USCIS and the State Department charge their own filing fees. Those go straight to the government and aren't part of our fee, and we'll tell you if you may qualify for a waiver.
Questions families ask about petitions
How long does a family petition take?
It depends on the relationship and the country. The spouse of a citizen often waits a year or more; a brother or sister can wait many years. We'll show you the current wait for your category at the consultation.
My spouse entered without a visa. Can we still apply?
Sometimes. It may take a waiver and an interview abroad, and that carries risks we'll explain before anything is filed. Please don't leave the country before you talk to a lawyer.
I'm a permanent resident. Can I sponsor my parents?
Not yet: only U.S. citizens can petition for parents. If you may qualify for citizenship, that could be the faster path, and we help with both.