Seattle Family-Based Immigration Lawyer Ready To Help You
Whether you are already a U.S. citizen living in the Seattle area, or have obtained lawful permanent residency status and settled in Snohomish County, if you have loved ones living abroad, family unification is likely a top priority for you. Unfortunately, United States immigration law is overwhelming with its many types of restrictions on who can apply to come to this country, including its use of different preferential categories to qualify your family member. The state of Washington has led the way in demonstrating its commitment to tolerance, diversity, and inclusiveness, but there is still much work to be done in federal legislation. Katrina Zafiro at ZafiroLaw is a Seattle family-based immigration lawyer with firsthand experience with visa processes as noncitizens and seeking citizenship in the United States.
You can believe we are deeply empathetic to individuals and families undertaking this process and are here to provide the knowledgeable representation you need to successfully obtain a visa.
What is Family-Based Immigration Law?
In 1965, the Immigration and Nationality Act created a system for noncitizens wanting to live in the United States to qualify. This has primarily focused on the prospective employment or family relationship of the would-be immigrants. The current provisions under this law currently allow natural-born citizens of the United States and lawful permanent residents to bring certain members of their families to this country from abroad.
There is a preference system used when determining which family-based immigrants should be allowed to enter the U.S. How an immigrant will contribute to the communities and economy of our country carry significant weight in the visa process for these individuals.
There are three primary types of family-based visas that you or your loved one may qualify for to come to the United States:
- Immediate Relative Visa
- K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa
- V Visa
When applying for a visa, the family-sponsored preference that your family member falls under should be one of the following:
First Preference
Sons and daughters of a U.S. citizen who are unmarried
Second Preference
Spouses, their children, and/or unmarried adult children of permanent lawful residents
Third Preference
Children of U.S. citizens who are married
Fourth Preference
Foreign siblings of an adult U.S. citizen
If you plan to begin the process of helping your loved one obtain a visa to enter the U.S., a Seattle family-based immigration lawyer at ZafiroLaw can assist you through every step of the process. Our own experience being immigrants and an extensive understanding of state and federal immigration law means you will avoid costly mistakes from trying to do it yourself. We bring years of successful visa case practice to represent your family-based immigration needs.
How a Seattle Family-Based Immigration Lawyer Can Help Your Case
Coming to the United States is an important step in reuniting your family and living your lives together as you always intended. Our legal team truly understands the challenges and anxiety of living so far away from your spouse, children, and other family members.
While there are many ways to get them through the visa process and home with you, there are countless requirements and restrictions that may apply to your loved one’s family-based visa application. ZafiroLaw provides seasoned Washington immigration attorneys who can guide you and explain every step of the process when petitioning for a visa.
We have spent almost two decades helping families throughout Snohomish County, King County and across the U.S. bring their loved ones to the United States. Our legal team can represent any family-based immigration issue, including:
- Fiancé(e) visas
- Naturalization and citizenship
- Immediate relative visas
- Marriage-based Adjustment of status
- Consular processing of your family-based petitions
- Noncitizen spouse entry and permanent residency visas
- Green card visas (Permanent residency) for immediate family members
These situations all require a different course of legal action to accomplish, and our immigration law team has the knowledge and extensive training you need. We always explain every part of the process to give you a complete understanding of what to expect.
How To File for Family Immigration
The first step in applying for family immigration is to file an immigrant visa petition – form I-30. The family member who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident will file the petition on behalf of the qualifying relative. A separate petition must be filed for each family member who will be immigrating.
For immediate relatives, there are three primary visa options:
- Spousal visa (IR-1 Visa or CR-1 Visa)
- Parent visa (IR-5 Visa)
- Minor child visa (IR-2 Visa)
Family preference visas are also available for more distant family relationships. The number of visas available in this category is limited.
Filing a petition is a complex process and is best handled by a Seattle family immigration lawyer who knows and understands immigration law.
The laws and requirements surrounding family immigration are constantly changing. You need the help of an attorney who knows the law and keeps up to date on frequent changes to ensure the best outcome for your case.
What Happens After the Petition is Approved?
Once the petition is approved, the case will be transferred to the Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC). Supporting documents and forms must be submitted along with fees.
The NVC will review your case and schedule an interview.
The petitioner (the U.S. citizen) will need to sign an Affidavit of Support accepting financial responsibility for the applicant. The petitioner will also need to provide supporting financial documents.
Prior to the interview, the petitioner and applicant will need to supply more civil documents and meet other requirements.
The process from start to finish is complex. One mistake can extend the processing time or may even lead to you having to start the process all over again.
An experienced immigration lawyer will ensure that you’re prepared every step of the way.
How Long Does Family-based Immigration Take?
While every case is different, family-based immigration is a lengthy process. The time it takes will depend on several factors, including the type of visa.
For immediate relative visas, the processing time is quicker because there is no numerical visa limitation. In other words, visas are always available for this category.
For other family members, the process can take significantly more time. Because there are limited visa numbers for this category, the wait time can be 12+ months after the I-130 petition is approved. In some cases, the wait time can be 5+ years.
Green card holders may only petition for their spouses and unmarried children to obtain green cards. Because there are only a limited number of visas available in this category, processing times can be 12 months or more.
Family immigration visas have lengthy processing times. Depending on what type of visa you’re seeking, you may have to wait 12+ months for approval. You can’t afford to make a mistake when filing your petition. A Seattle family immigration lawyer will ensure that your application is filled out correctly and that you have all of the appropriate documentation to improve your chances of success.
What Questions Should You Ask a Family Immigration Lawyer at Your Consultation
Consultations are the ideal time for you to get to know your potential Seattle family immigration lawyer and if they’re a good fit for you. Asking the right questions will give you peace of mind that you’re in good hands.
Questions we recommend that you ask during your consultation are:
- What types of immigration do you have direct experience in? If you need a marriage-based or fiancé visa, working with an attorney who has experience in this area can help you speed up the process and improve the odds of approval.
- What experience do you have with cases similar to mine? Every case is unique, but if your lawyer has worked with others who have had similar issues in the past, it will be beneficial to you.
- What’s your opinion on my case? Lawyers almost expect that you’ll ask them what they think about your case. You may or may not like the answer. An experienced lawyer may tell you that your odds do or don’t look good. The attorney may also explain that your desired timeline is unrealistic, but they’re confident of success. You want an honest legal advocate by your side, not the one who will tell you what you want to hear.
- What are my responsibilities when working with you? You may be responsible for a lot more than you expect when working with a lawyer. It’s important to know what the lawyer will handle and what you’ll be expected to do on your own throughout the immigration process.
During the consultation, we will also try our best to learn about you. If you’re not 100% honest, we cannot provide you with accurate answers. For example, if you have a criminal record and do not divulge this information, it will eventually come out.
Criminal records, either in the U.S. or abroad, will be scrutinized by immigration officials.
If you have a minor conviction, it will have a much lower bearing on your case than sexual assault or murder. We must know about your record, to be honest about your immigration approval.
Hiring The Right Seattle Family Immigration Lawyer Near You
Our immigration lawyers know that reuniting with your family or spouse in the U.S. is a top priority. Minor issues with your paperwork can lead to lost time that you’ll never get back. Hiring the right attorney will:
- Protect your rights
- Reduce delays that can keep you or your loved one from immigrating faster
- Offer you legal guidance that is laser-focused on your unique case
Procedural assistance relieves you of the burden of filing immigration applications and communicating with USCIS to ask about the status of your case.
Immigration law is complex, with a lot of laws that apply and are easy to overlook. Your future depends on filing your application with every supporting document error-free and in its completion. Ignorance of the law or procedures will not help your case.
Don’t let immigration issues keep your family from reuniting.
Call us at (206) 547-9906 or fill out the form below to schedule a consultation to discuss reuniting you with your spouse or family member.
A Seattle Family-Based Immigration Lawyer At ZafiroLaw Can Help You
If you are ready to petition the United States Customs and Immigration Service to bring your spouse or immediate family members to the U.S., or have already started the process, working with Seattle-based immigration attorneys like our team at ZafiroLaw is critical. You can trust us to provide you with regular updates and communicate with you about any issues we foresee and what steps can be taken to avoid them.
Our firm knows how the decisions you make during this process will impact your efforts to reunite with your family. We take this reality seriously and do everything possible to ensure everyone is together as quickly as this process allows. With our practice located in Seattle, we are able to offer our services to many communities in the area, including Shoreline, Renton, Issaquah, and Mercer Island.
To learn more about how we can help your particular immigration law matter, please call us at 206-547-9906 or contact us today!
