Lombard Family Immigration Attorney

Lombard Family Immigration Attorney

Families are stronger together, and many U.S. citizens struggle with the distance between themselves and their loved ones. Lombard residents looking for ways to bring their spouses, parents, children, or siblings to the United States might qualify to petition for a family-based visa. These visas give eligible family members of U.S. citizens or permanent residents lawful immigrant status. 

If you’re interested in bringing family members to the United States, you need a dedicated family immigration attorney from Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C. Our lawyers have the experience needed to reunite families under federal immigration laws. Discuss your case with our multilingual Chicago legal team today by connecting with us online. 

Bringing Immediate Relatives to the United States Legally

While some visas are limited, the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) provides an unlimited number of visas (green cards) for qualifying immediate family members of U.S. citizens. The INA defines an immediate family member as: 

• Biological parent(s) of a U.S. citizen over the age of 21, generally excluding stepparents or the biological parents of lawfully adopted children 
• Adopted children under the age of 16 
• Unmarried biological children under the age of 21 
• Spouses and children of spouses (stepchildren)  

Certain exceptions apply to lawfully-adopted children over the age of 16 or stepparents of U.S. citizens who married a biological parent before the citizen child turned 18. The petitioner may request an immediate relative classification and special visa for the above relatives; however, they must prove that a genuine relationship exists between the parties. This generally requires evidence of lawful and non-fraudulent marriages, such as being the only spouse of the U.S. citizen, or meaningful parent-child relationships. Our dedicated Lombard family immigration lawyers help clients identify and submit the evidence needed to qualify their relatives for special immigrant visas. 

Petitioning for Non-Immediate Family Members or Relatives of U.S. Permanent Residents

If you or your relative does not qualify for an immediate family visa under the INA, our attorneys might still help you petition for a family preference visa. These visas are subject to annual caps and country limits allocated based on family member priority. For example, unmarried adult children and grandchildren of U.S. citizens have preference over the spouses of legal permanent residents (green card holders) in Lombard. 

The following relatives might qualify for family preference visas: 

• Unmarried adult children and their minor children (grandchildren under the age of 18) 
• Spouses, biological minor children, and unmarried adult children of U.S. permanent residents 
• Married adult children of U.S. citizens along with their spouses and children 
• Siblings of U.S. citizens and their spouses and minor children (nieces and nephews) 

It often takes years to obtain family-preference visas, which are allocated based on your petition’s filing date. The sooner you submit your relative immigrant petition and receive your priority date, the quicker your loved one might qualify for permanent residency. 

Discuss the Legal Options for Bringing Loved Ones to the U.S. with Our Lombard Family Immigration Lawyers

The immigration process takes time, but exceptions may exist for political, medical, and humanitarian emergencies. At Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C., we can explore the best options for getting your family members to the United States quickly and legally. Connect with us online to discuss your unique case.