Family Immigration Lawyer for Family-Based Visas and Green Cards
Family-based immigration can give U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents a path to help certain relatives come to the United States or obtain permanent residence. A family immigration lawyer can help identify the appropriate process based on your status, your relationship to the relative, where they live, and visa availability.
At the Law Office of Irene G. Mugambi, P.C., we help families understand their options. Our family immigration attorney can also identify issues that may affect timing or eligibility before they create avoidable problems.
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Reuniting Families Through Immigration. Helping You Bring Loved Ones Home.
Whether you’re a U.S. citizen or resident, we help you petition family members and navigate the process so you can be together again.
Who Can You Sponsor Through Family-Based Immigration?
A family immigration lawyer can help you determine which relatives you may petition for based on whether you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Family immigration categories also affect whether a visa is immediately available or whether the relative must wait for a visa number.
Family Members U.S. Citizens May Petition For
U.S. citizens may be able to petition for several types of close relatives, although the immigration category and wait time depend on the relationship.
- A spouse
- An unmarried child under age 21
- A son or daughter age 21 or older, whether married or unmarried
- A parent, if the U.S. citizen is at least 21
- A brother or sister, if the U.S. citizen is at least 21
We can explain which category applies to your relative and how that classification affects the next steps. Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of adult U.S. citizens are considered immediate relatives under immigration law. Other qualifying relatives fall into family-preference categories, which are subject to annual visa limits.
Family Members Lawful Permanent Residents May Petition For
Lawful permanent residents have a more limited group of relatives they may sponsor through the family-based immigration system.
- A spouse
- An unmarried child under age 21
- An unmarried son or daughter age 21 or older
These relatives fall within family-preference categories. A family immigration lawyer can explain how the petition filing date and visa availability may affect their place in the process.
How the Family Immigration Process Works
In many family-based cases, the process begins with Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. Filing the petition asks U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to recognize the qualifying family relationship. Approval of the petition does not, by itself, give the relative permanent residence or permission to enter the United States. We can help you understand what petition approval means and what still needs to happen before your relative may receive permanent residence.
What happens next depends on the relative’s circumstances. A person who is in the United States and meets the requirements may be able to apply for adjustment of status. A relative living abroad will generally complete immigrant visa processing through a U.S. consulate once a visa is available. A family-based immigration attorney can help determine which path applies and what documents will be needed at each stage.
What Does a Family Immigration Lawyer Review in a Petition?
The path forward can depend on several details beyond the family relationship itself. Age, marital status, the petitioner’s citizenship or permanent-resident status, visa availability, prior immigration history, and whether the relative is inside or outside the United States can all affect the process.
A family-based immigration lawyer can review those factors together, identify the appropriate family-based pathway, and help anticipate issues that may affect the petition or later stages of the case.
How Our Family Immigration Attorney Helps
The family-based immigration attorney at The Law Office of Irene G. Mugambi, P.C., can help you plan beyond the initial petition and prepare for the stages that may follow petition approval. Our family immigration lawyer can help with tasks such as confirming the appropriate family category, preparing forms and supporting evidence, responding to agency requests, preparing for interviews, and coordinating the steps that follow petition approval.
Family immigration attorney Irene G. Mugambi has practiced law in Texas since 1996 and entered private practice in 1997. She is an elected Board Director for the American Immigration Lawyers Association and a former Chair of its Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico Chapter. Our team serves clients in English and Spanish and provides personalized guidance based on each family’s circumstances.
Talk with a Family Immigration Lawyer in Dallas
Family immigration is ultimately about creating a lawful path for relatives to live together in the United States. The process can look very different from one family to another, especially when visa limits, immigration history, or multiple stages are involved.
If you want to sponsor a qualifying relative or need help understanding the next step in an existing family case, contact us to request a consultation with our family immigration attorney. We can review your situation, explain the available path, and help you prepare for the steps ahead.
