Bringing Your Family to the United States Starts Here
Every family situation is different. What stays the same is the process — and how easy it is to make a mistake that costs months or years. We handle family-based immigration in New York, California, and Texas, and we walk with you from the first petition to the day your family member arrives.
Two Categories, Very Different Timelines — Here's What That Means for You
Not all family petitions move at the same pace, and the difference can be significant. Understanding which category your family member falls into is one of the most important things to know before you file.
Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens
If you are a U.S. citizen petitioning for your spouse, an unmarried child under 21, or a parent, your family member qualifies as an immediate relative. There is no annual cap on visas for this category, which means no waiting in a backlog queue. Cases in this category move faster than any other family-based path.
Family Preference Categories
Adult children, siblings, and spouses or unmarried children of lawful permanent residents fall into the family preference categories. These cases are subject to annual visa limits, and the wait times can stretch from a few years to over a decade depending on the category and the country of birth. Knowing where you stand in this line — before you file — matters.
We assess your family's specific situation first. If there is a faster path available, we will tell you. If the timeline is long, you will know that too, and we will help you plan around it.
How the Family Petition Process Works
Filing an I-130 petition is the starting point, not the finish line. Here is what the full path looks like.
1. File the I-130 Petition
The I-130 is the formal petition that establishes your qualifying relationship with your family member. We prepare and file this with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, making sure every supporting document is in order before it goes out the door.
2. National Visa Center Processing
Once USCIS approves the I-130, the case transfers to the National Visa Center. This stage involves collecting additional documents, paying fees, and preparing the file for the next step. Delays here are common when submissions are incomplete or incorrectly formatted.
3. Consular Interview or Adjustment of Status
If your family member is outside the United States, they will attend a consular interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. If they are already in the country, they may be eligible to adjust status without leaving. We prepare your family member for the interview and handle the paperwork for either path.
4. Entry or Green Card Approval
Once approved, your family member either enters the U.S. on an immigrant visa or receives their green card through adjustment of status. At that point, they become a lawful permanent resident — and the green card process is the natural next step for many families.
Serving Families in Queens, Oakland, and Beyond
We work with families across New York, California, and Texas, with offices in Springfield Gardens, NY, Oakland, CA, and Culver City, CA. Our immigration practice also serves clients nationally — many family petition clients work with us entirely by phone or video, regardless of where they live.
If your family is spread across multiple countries or states, that is something we handle regularly. You do not need to be local to work with us.
Common Questions Families Ask Before They Start
How do I petition for my parent to come to the United States?
If you are a U.S. citizen and your parent is outside the country, you can file an I-130 petition on their behalf. Parents of U.S. citizens are immediate relatives, meaning there is no annual visa cap on their category. Once the petition is approved and NVC processing is complete, your parent will attend a consular interview at a U.S. embassy. We handle the petition, the supporting documents, and the interview preparation.How do I sponsor my spouse for a green card?
The process depends on whether your spouse is inside or outside the U.S. If they are abroad, the path runs through a consular interview. If they are already here, adjustment of status may be available. Either way, it begins with an I-130 petition. Spouses of U.S. citizens are immediate relatives and face no annual cap, so their cases move on a faster track than most.How long does sibling immigration take?
Siblings of U.S. citizens fall into the F4 family preference category, which carries some of the longest wait times in the family-based system — often a decade or more depending on the country of birth. This does not mean the petition is not worth filing. It means you should file as early as possible and understand the realistic timeline before you start. We will give you an honest picture of where your case stands.What if my family situation is complicated — divorce, stepchildren, or family members in multiple countries?
Complicated is not the same as impossible. We review your specific circumstances before any petition is filed, including prior marriages, step-relationships, and cases involving family members in different countries. Catching a potential issue before filing prevents delays and denials down the road. Do you work with Spanish-speaking clients? Yes. George speaks Spanish fluently, and we serve Spanish-speaking families across all of our locations and nationally for immigration matters. You do not need to navigate this process in a second language.
Ready to Start the Process for Your Family?
The sooner a petition is filed, the sooner the clock starts. Whether you are petitioning for a spouse, a parent, or a sibling, the first step is understanding exactly where your family stands and what path is available to you. That is what the consultation is for.
