FAMILY BASED GREEN CARDS

A family-based green card that provides lawful permanent residence to immediate relatives of US citizens based on your family relationship.

Requirements:

  • The applicant must be the spouse, parent or unmarried child (under 21 years of age) of a US citizen.
  • To be eligible for an immediate relative Green Card as a parent, the child (US citizen sponsor) must be at least 21 years of age.
  • Applicants are required to provide evidence of their relationship with their US citizen relative, who must act as the applicant's financial sponsor.

The process of filing Family-based Green Cards:

There are two basic ways of filing family-based green card:

  • Adjustment of status
  • consular process.

Adjustment of Status:

 The adjustment of the status path can only be used by immigrants that are already in the United States. Generally, this is limited to immediate relatives of U.S. citizens that are in the United States on a non-immigrant visa.

Consular Processing:

 The consular processing path can be used by immigrants that are inside or outside the United States. Consular processing is the process used when an immigrant applies for a family-based green card through the U.S. embassy or consular offices in a foreign country.

K Visa:

K category is a nonimmigrant visa for the foreign fiancé and minor children of a U.S. citizen.

The K-1 & K-2 visa permits the foreign fiancé and children (under age of 21) of a U.S citizen to travel to the United States. The Legal Immigration and Family Equity (LIFE) Act amendments of 2000 added the K-3 visa category for foreign spouses and K-4 category for stepchildren of U.S citizen.

Requirements:

U.S citizen:

  • Must be U.S Citizen to apply K-1 visa for fiancé. You can’t apply if you’re a permanent resident.
  • Must be single or have legal proof if divorced from previous spouse or certificate of death if your previous spouse is passed away.
  • Must marry fiancé within 90 days if she/he is in U.S on K-1 status, if you failed to do so you will become removable from U.S and cannot adjust with any other means.
  • Must provide evidence of financial support for your fiancé.
  • Must submit a copy of your previous criminal records if you have committed any.

Fiancé (K-1):

  • Must be living outside U.S
  • Must have met your fiancé at least once within past 2 years.
  • Must be single or have legal proof if divorced from previous spouse or certificate of death if your previous spouse is passed away.
  • Must not have past violation records regarding U.S Immigration law

Children of Fiancé (K-2)-

  • Must be child of K-1 holder
  • Must be under 21 years of age and unmarried

Spouse of U.S Citizen (K-3) –

  • Must have married to U.S Citizen
  • Copy of Marriage certificate
  • Copy of legal proof if divorced from previous spouse or certificate of death if your previous spouse is passed away.

Stepchildren of U.S citizen (K-4) –

  • Must be a child of eligible K-3 alien.

Required Documents:

  • Valid Passport for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States.
  • Copy of Birth Certificate
  • If applicable, divorce or death certificate of any previous spouse for both the applicant and the petitioner
  • Evidence of a fiancé relationship - i.e. photos of marriage.
  • Evidence of your marriage to the U.S. citizen within 90 days (for K-1s)
  • Medical reports