Family-Based Visas

A family-based visa is an immigrant visa that a person obtains as a result of having a U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) relative.  Family-based visa petitions can be filed for a variety of different relatives, including spouses of LPRs and citizens, children of LPRs and citizens, and parents of citizens.  Generally, the process of obtaining a family-based visa starts by hiring an experienced attorney to help you file a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.

Once the I-130 petition has been filed and approved, there are two ways for the beneficiary of the petition to obtain his or her green card.  If the beneficiary is in the U.S., he or she may be able to “adjust status”–  in other words, he or she may be able to file an application to obtain a green card in the U.S.  If the beneficiary is outside of the U.S., he or she will likely have to “consular process” in order to obtain a green card.  This means that the beneficiary will have to attend an interview at a U.S. consulate abroad and complete several other steps in order to finish the process.  Once a person has successfully consular processed, he or she may enter the U.S. on a family-based visa.  Please contact John L. Wheaton, Attorney at Law for more information at 206-829-8214.