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Family-Based Immigration

Detroit, Michigan Family Immigration Lawyer

Helping Families in and around Detroit with Family-Based Immigration Needs

Oftentimes a foreign national who enters the United States for employment reasons will want his or her family to enter the United States as well. In these situations, there are specific visas available for the visa holder’s spouse and children to enter the United States. Moreover, current U.S. immigration laws allow for individuals who are  U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States to petition for family members to obtain legal status in the United States. The family members can be either in the United States or living in abroad.

Detroit area family immigration attorney David Newman focuses on helping foreign nationals and their families obtain legal status in the United States by seeking the appropriate visa. If you and your family are currently seeking entry into the United States, contact Michigan family immigration attorney David Newman at (248) 737-1824 to learn more about family-based immigration options.

Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens (IR)

Individuals who share a close family relationship with a U.S. citizen, including spouses, children, and parents, are eligible for immigration visas based on the family relationship. Additionally, a U.S. citizen can sponsor a child adopted or to be adopted from abroad. Family members of U.S. citizens (not legal permanent residents/green card holders) can file Immediate Relative Petitions for individuals with whom they share one of the following family relationships:

  • Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (IR-1)
  • Unmarried Child Under 21 Years of Age of a U.S. Citizen (IR-2)
  • Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. Citizen (IR-3)
  • Orphan to be adopted in the United States by a U.S. citizen (IR-4)
  • Parent of a U.S. Citizen who is at least 21 years old (IR-5)

Returning Residents (SB)

Immigrants who lived in the United States previously as lawful permanent residents and are returning to live in the U.S. after a temporary visit of more than one year abroad are eligible for an SB immigration visa.

Limited Family-Based Immigrants

There are also a limited number of immigration visas for individuals who share a specific, more distant, family relationship with a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident, including the following:

  • Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their children (if any)
  • Spouses, minor children, and unmarried sons and daughters (over age 20) of lawful permanent residents
  • Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and children
  • Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and children, provided the U.S. citizens are at least 21 years of age

Family-based immigration visas involve extensive paperwork and documentation with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. Michigan family immigration attorney David Newman has considerable experience helping families obtain the appropriate immigration visas. He will explain the immigration options to you and guide you through the maze of legal paperwork that is required to obtain a family-based visa. Contact his office at (248) 737-1824 to learn more about family-based immigration options.