FAMILY MEMBERS OF GREEN CARD HOLDERS

Lawful U.S. Permanent Residents may petition for their spouses and unmarried children of any age, to immigrate to the United States if they otherwise qualify.

Professional Security

Using our cutting-edge online platform, you will be able to access, check the status of, and edit your case information from anywhere. Need to submit documents to your attorney? Login when it’s convenient and even from your mobile device.

Comfortably Access Your Case

Rest easy with us in charge of your personal information. We use highly advanced security measures to protect your personal data and documents. We will never release your information without your consent, to anyone.

Client Support

Reach someone from our team of experienced Attorneys and Paralegal staff from anywhere. Our team members speak English, Spanish, Russian, and Portuguese. If we can’t speak your language, we will find someone who can, and at no cost.

Excellent Services for Your $

We appreciate that you worked hard for your money. Your satisfaction is extremely important to us, and through our highly innovative online case management software, we have been able to cut costs and pass our savings on to our clients.

As a green card holder (lawful permanent resident), you are allowed to petition for certain family members to immigrate to the United States. A permanent resident can petition for his or her spouse and unmarried children of any age to come and live in the U.S. permanently. There is a limited number of these visas allotted each year by Congress, so there is often a long waiting period for a visa number. If your family member qualifies under this family preference category, you can file a petition for them if they are already in the U.S. lawfully or if they are still overseas.

Related form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

If the family member qualifies for this immigrant visa, he or she falls into the Second Family preference category (F2). This category includes spouses of U.S. permanent residents and their unmarried children of any age.
There are a few scenarios that could affect eligibility under the F2 category:

  • Turning 21 years old. Turning 21 years old could significantly delay your obtaining an immigrant visa. At that age, you will no longer be considered an “unmarried child”, or F2A, and will transfer to the subcategory of “unmarried son or daughter”, referred to as F2B. The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) may apply to you and allow you to maintain your eligibility for the F2A category.
  • Getting married. If you marry before you become a lawful permanent resident, you will no longer qualify as an unmarried child of a permanent resident. There is no immigrant visa category for married children of permanent residents.
  • The permanent resident family member becomes a U.S. citizen. This could work to the advantage of the immigrating family member by qualifying him or her for a green card as the family member of a U.S. citizen. Potentially, one of those visas could become available before an F2 visa.

Also, see Form I-485 here and Form I-131 here

Was your form I-130 Already Approved?

How long does it take for the I-130 to be approved?

After filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, the approval process can take anywhere from 5-12 months for Immediate Relatives and could take several years for Family Preference Categories.

What happens after your I-130 gets approved?

After approval of an I-130, USCIS will send the file to the National Visa Center (NVC) and will coordinate the case transfer for consular processing in the U.S. consulate in the country where the foreign relative resides.

How much does it cost to file an I-130?

The filing fee for the I-130 petition is currently $535. You may pay the fee with a money order, personal check, or cashier’s check.

When I can file I-130 and Green Card Application at the same time?

When the Sponsor submits Form I-130 together with Form I-485 it’s known as “concurrent filing.” This type of adjustment is an option when there is an immediately available immigrant “visa number” and the immigrant entered and living in the U.S. in lawful status and is eligible to use adjustment of status as an application procedure.

Contact Attorney Igor Litvak

    Call today for a consultation

    Zontlaw attorneys have provided assistance with the green card process to families throughout the United States. Contact our experienced immigration lawyers in New York City today for creative solutions to your complex immigration problems. The Green Card process is very complicated, so the best chance of success comes from working with an experienced attorney. Our attorneys, translators, and support staff will work with you individually to give you the best chance of success possible.  We know how difficult and heart-wrenching the process can be, and we will be with you every step of the way.

    Your citizenship or your residency status is something you should entrust to a professional. Call the top New York Immigration Attorneys toll-free at 1-888-ZONTLAW / 1-888-966-8529

    OUR BLOG

    This article is intended to give you an overview of the various Immigrant Family Preference Categories that exist, the number…
    Read more
    Testimonials
    Write a review
    Джума Мыратгелдиев
    Джума Мыратгелдиев
    2023-05-31
    Great attorney, easy to work with, highly recommend, my case was dismissed Thank you so much Igor LITVAK
    Ninjacool
    Ninjacool
    2023-05-22
    Really helpful good lawyer
    Nida Kumar
    Nida Kumar
    2023-05-17
    Mr. Igor is one of the best lawyer, I have ever met. He had been so kind and full of understanding. Had a privilege to hire him to represent us in federal court. And he did everything possible, to get us out of the trouble. A true man of words. Highly recommended.
    Alexandra Dordzhieva
    Alexandra Dordzhieva
    2023-05-17
    Good lawyer, helped us in a case
    Karl Mukaz
    Karl Mukaz
    2023-04-17
    Had the best experience with Igor! Fast, reliable and professional! Highly recommend!
    Jekaterina Shapovalova
    Jekaterina Shapovalova
    2023-04-10
    Igor Litvak is an outstanding lawyer in New York, and I am beyond impressed with his level of professionalism and expertise. I recently had the privilege of working with him on a complex legal matter, and his knowledge, dedication, and attention to detail were simply unparalleled. From our initial consultation to the resolution of my case, Mr. Litvak went above and beyond to ensure that I understood all aspects of the legal process and was always kept up to date on the status of my case. He provided sound advice, was always available to answer any questions, and took a personalized approach to my legal needs. Mr. Litvak is not only a brilliant attorney, but he is also an exceptional communicator and an empathetic advocate. He is a true professional who genuinely cares about his clients and their well-being, and I would highly recommend him to anyone in need of legal services. If you want an attorney who is not only knowledgeable, but also compassionate, diligent, and committed to achieving the best possible outcome for his clients, then look no further than Mr. Litvak. He is simply the best.
    renier valle
    renier valle
    2023-03-28
    A very good attorney, I highly recommand him, i had a major criminal case which he resolved with no record. Just a great attorney.
    Albert_Brits
    Albert_Brits
    2023-02-17
    The best attorney you can get, he will fight for you like he did for me, he was also very detailed on the case and always answering his call, you actually get to have his cell phone. Highly recommended.
    lady jackey
    lady jackey
    2023-02-06
    Very reliable, and friendly staff, they were very patient with me throughout my vwa case It was a pleasure working with them
    Scroll to top