Family Immigration Attorney in Elgin

Family Immigration Attorney in Elgin

Immigration is a primary building block of our nation, and it plays an important role in both our present and our future. Family immigration is the most direct path toward immigration to the United States, and although the process is strict, the rewards are immense. If you are facing the family immigration process, having an experienced family immigration attorney in Elgin on your side is always to your advantage.

The Family Immigration Path

Family immigration is by far the most common means of immigrating to the United States, but the requirements and restrictions that apply are exacting. A close relative who is either a citizen of the U.S. or a lawful permanent resident (LPR), which means they hold a Green Card, can sponsor you to obtain Green Card status of your own – under the right circumstances. A Green Card means the bearer has the right to work and live in the United States as a permanent resident.

Your Eligibility for Family Immigration

In order to be eligible for family-based immigration in the U.S., you must qualify under one of the following highly specific categories:

• You are the spouse of a U.S. citizen or LPR.
• You are the unmarried child of a U.S. citizen or LPR, and you are under the age of 21.
• You are the parent of a U.S. citizen or LPR who is at least 21 years old.
• You are an orphan who was adopted by a U.S. citizen or LPR.

More distant relatives do not make the cut for family-based immigration in the U.S.

Meeting the Family-Based Immigration Requirements

The requirements for achieving family-based immigration include a range of preliminary steps, such as the following:

• The person who is doing the sponsoring must meet all applicable requirements, including that they are a citizen or LPR and are at least 18 years old, which in some situations is extended to a minimum of 21 years old. 
• The process begins with the sponsor filing a petition for their loved one with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). 
• This petition must outline the sponsored party’s eligibility and the citizen’s financial ability to sponsor them. 
• The sponsor must also attest to their financial commitment to the sponsored party in a signed affidavit of support. 
• From here, the person being sponsored must pass a suite of security and background checks that serve as screenings for health, criminality, and national security.

There are plenty of opportunities for minor errors or mishaps to derail family-based immigration at any point in the process, which makes having a dedicated family immigration lawyer in your corner from the start the best policy. 

An Experienced Family Immigration Attorney in Elgin Can Help

The compassionate family immigration attorneys at Minsky McCormick & Hallagan – proudly serving Elgin – appreciate the immense impact that achieving family-based immigration can have on families, and we always harness the full force of our decades of experience in focused pursuit of favorable case outcomes. Whether you are sponsoring a family member or are being sponsored, we’re here to help, so please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information today.