Family Preference Visas in Goose Creek

It is the long-standing policy of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. federal government in general that people can obtain lawful permanent resident status through their family connections. However, depending on what type of relationship you have with your family member in the U.S. and whether that family member is a citizen or a permanent resident, your pathway toward getting your green card may change significantly.

Spouses, minor children, and parents of U.S. citizens are eligible for immediate relative visas, whereas other family members of citizens and permanent residents are only eligible for family preference visas. A skilled immigration attorney from Miller | Conway who is familiar with family preference visas in Goose Creek can help you apply for one of these visas or sponsor a family member’s application.

Who Is Eligible for a Family Preference Visa?

Family preference visas are available to foreign nationals without permanent resident status who fall into one of the following preference immigrant categories:

• First preference (F1): children of U.S. citizens who are unmarried and 21 years of age or older
• Second preference (F2A): spouses and unmarried children under 21 of lawful permanent residents
• Second preference (F2B): unmarried children over 21 of lawful permanent residents
• Third preference (F3): married children of U.S. citizens
• Fourth preference (F4): siblings of U.S. citizens, provided the citizen in question is at least 21 years of age themselves

These categories are listed in priority order as well, so F1 applicants will have their applications reviewed and potentially approved before any F2 applicants, F2 applications will be reviewed before F3 applications, and so on. For someone in Goose Creek to be eligible to receive a family preference visa, there must be an immigrant visa immediately available to them both at the time of their initial application and at the time USCIS renders a final decision on that application.

Basic Steps When Applying for a Family Preference Visa

Just like immediate relative visa applicants, family preference visa applicants must have their qualifying family member formally sponsor their application. This process entails the sponsoring family member completing and submitting Form I-130 to USCIS and paying processing fees after receiving a welcome letter from the National Visa Center. The sponsor must also submit an Affidavit of Support affirming that they accept full financial responsibility for their family member, as well as for any government benefits that the family member receives prior to becoming a naturalized citizen.

After this is all done, both the sponsor and the prospective immigrant must complete Form DS-260 and submit it to USCIS with necessary supporting documents, receive a medical examination from a U.S. Embassy-approved physician, and typically complete a visa interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If the immigrant is approved for a family preference visa at the end of this process, they can fill out Form I-485 once they arrive in Goose Creek to begin the application process for permanent resident status.

Speak With a Goose Creek Attorney About Family Preference Visas

Of course, this is far from a comprehensive overview of every step involved in this process, and it only touches briefly on the many complications and procedural roadblocks you may encounter along the way. Fortunately, you have support available from legal professionals who have more than 30 years of combined experience helping families like yours through situations like this.

An immigration lawyer from Miller | Conway can answer any questions you have about family preference visas in Goose Creek during a confidential consultation. Schedule yours by calling today.