Family Immigration Attorney Near Me

Family Immigration Attorney Near Me

Family immigration is one of the most personal legal rights a person can enforce. By sponsoring a relative for a visa or green card, you are helping your family stay together and securing future long-term plans for keeping the family together in the United States lawfully. You don’t have to spend hours on the internet searching for a “family immigration attorney near me.” The experienced immigration lawyers at Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan serve Chicago and all Chicagoland suburbs. We have helped many families achieve lawful immigration status, and we will fight for your legal rights, as well.

Family-Sponsored Visas

United States citizens can sponsor relatives for an immediate relative visa, a family preference visa, or a fiance(e) visa (which requires the couple to marry within ninety days of the immigrant’s entry into the country). Different visas have different preference categories, and some are more widely available than others. Some visas are also restricted by annual quotas. It is important to work with an experienced Chicago immigration lawyer to be sure you are applying for the visa that best fits your unique situation. Errors can delay the process by months – or sometimes even years. Applying in the wrong preference category can also leave your family member waiting for a visa for longer than is necessary.

Family-Sponsored Green Cards

A “green card” is a common term for lawful permanent residence. Lawful permanent residents may live and work in the United States for as long as their green cards are valid. (If, for example, a green card holder is convicted of a felony, this could invalidate his or her immigration status.) Most green cards must also be renewed every ten years. United States citizens may sponsor a spouse, an unmarried child under the age of 21, or a parent for an immediate family green card. Other family members can also be sponsored for green cards, but it is more difficult to obtain these, and they depend on the preference category in which your relative qualifies. 

Citizenship

Citizenship is achieved on an applicant’s own merits – not due to sponsorship by a family member. You can support your family members by helping them navigate the paperwork and citizenship process or by studying for the required tests. This help is especially important for family members whose first language is not English. The process can be overwhelming, and the technical explanations and requirements can be difficult to understand. Though you cannot act as a sponsor or meet these requirements for someone else, your support can be invaluable in helping a family member successfully navigate the citizenship application process. 

Looking For a Family Immigration Attorney Near You?

The experienced immigration lawyers at Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan have helped many families achieve lawful immigration status. Whether you need a visa, green card, or citizenship, our skilled immigration legal team can protect your legal rights in order to help your family stay together. Contact us to schedule a consultation with an experienced immigration attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you have an immigration lawyer on your side, the better protected your legal rights will be.