How To Apply For The United States Family Reunion?

This page explains how a U. S. citizen may petition for certain family members to receive either a Green Card, a fiancé (e) visa, or a K-3/K-4 visa based on their relationship. The application process for Family Preference Visas is crucial for ensuring a successful application for permanent residency for loved ones. To apply for parole for a family member, one must be a U. S. citizen or LPR, have an approved Form I-130, and have family members in Columbia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras.

For nationals from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haití, Honduras, and El Salvador, there are seven steps to complete the FRP process. The United States is making it easier for eligible individuals from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Cuba, and Haiti to be reunited with family in the U. S. Relatives of U. S. citizens or permanent residents may take advantage of U. S. family-based immigration, which allows them to obtain a Green Card to travel to and live in the U. S. legally.

The first step in applying for an immigrant visa is for the US citizen or LPR to file an immigrant visa petition, form I-130, with the office of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If you have not already started the EAD application process, you can begin by creating a USCIS account online and filing Form-I-765.

There are various family reunification processes available, each with different requirements regarding who is eligible to apply. A petition must be filed by a family member who is a legal U. S. resident, and the sponsor must take full responsibility for the foreign national’s visa application.

How Do I Bring A Family Member To The USA?

To sponsor a family member for permanent residency in the United States, you must complete a USCIS Form I-130 for each individual you are petitioning. You can file this form online or via mail. As a U. S. citizen or Green Card holder, you have the ability to petition for certain family members, allowing them to receive a Green Card, fiancé(e) visa, or K-3/K-4 visa. To petition for parents, you need to be a U. S. citizen and at least 21 years old. Each petition must include proof of your citizenship and evidence of your relationship to the family member.

The petition process involves steps such as conveying your purpose and filing the I-130 form, which initiates the visa application procedure. Immediate relatives, which include spouses, children, and parents of U. S. citizens, do not face numerical limitations on visa availability. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the necessary steps and requirements for the petitions effectively to help your family members immigrate to live permanently in the U. S.

How Long Does It Take For US Family Reunion Visa?

For immediate relatives of U. S. citizens, USCIS can process the I-130 petition in approximately 5 to 12 months, influenced by the service center involved. Similar timelines apply when a green card holder petitions for an unmarried child under 21 or a spouse. Applying for a family reunion visa may take longer, often around 2 years, so early application is advised. Immediate relatives do not experience visa wait times, as visas are always available for them.

If they are in the U. S., they can file Form I-485 to adjust their status. Processing times for family petitions vary based on demonstrated relationships, typically averaging nearly a year for spouses, dependent children, and parents. In contrast, Family Preference visas can require lengthy waits due to visa number limitations. An example is the K1 Visa, granting fiancés 90 days to marry in the U. S., after which they may apply for a provisional Green Card.

Approval timelines for family reunification vary significantly, generally ranging from one to five years, with processing for applications like the I-918 form potentially taking up to five years. Immediate Relative processing is typically expedited, while other categories face longer delays due to priority dates. For successful applications, employment authorization can be pursued post-approval, keeping in mind that each case is uniquely assessed. Overall, applicants should prepare for varying timelines based on individual cases and relationships.

How Do I Apply For Family Reunification?

Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection can request family reunification by writing to the Family Reunification Section of the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD). Applicants must complete a family reunification questionnaire and submit necessary supporting documents. In May 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) introduced new family reunification parole processes for nationals from Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, including their immediate family, with approved family-based petitions by U.

S. citizens. To obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), individuals must file Form I-765 under (c)(11) category. Furthermore, you may file Form I-134A to support the principal beneficiary of your Form I-130 petition. The family reunification process requires U. S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to first submit an immigration petition using Form I-130. It is critical to follow all requirements to achieve successful permanent residency applications for family members.

After approval of family reunification parole, EAD applications can also be filed. As part of the process, individuals may need to file Form I-730 within two years of entering the U. S. as a refugee or being granted asylum, with an emphasis on completing the necessary forms and documentation.

Who Is Eligible For Family Reunion?

Family reunion options in the UK are available for partners or children of those who were part of a family unit before being forced to leave their home country, granted they have been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection. Eligible family members include spouses, civil partners, unmarried/same-sex partners, and biological children under 18 years old. The Refugee Family Reunion scheme allows eligible spouses or partners and children who were part of the family prior to the sponsor’s departure to join them in the UK.

To apply under this scheme, the spouse or partner must provide evidence of a valid marriage or partnership, a genuine relationship, and the intention to live together permanently. Eligibility criteria for other countries, such as the United States, also include the ability for U. S. citizens or permanent residents to sponsor immediate relatives for a Green Card. This includes spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents.

Refugees and asylees in the U. S. have specific processes to petition for family members to join them. The petitioning individual must have been a refugee or asylum beneficiary for at least two years. Additionally, Germany offers a Family Reunion Visa for German residents to bring their family members, with eligibility criteria outlined in their Residence Act.

This serves as an overview of the various family reunion provisions in different countries, highlighting eligibility requirements and the necessary application processes.

How Do I Apply For A Family Based Immigrant Visa?

The petition process is essential for obtaining a family-based immigrant visa, beginning with Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative). This form is crucial as it initiates the path for eligible relatives to immigrate to the U. S. and secure a Green Card. A U. S. citizen or lawful permanent resident can sponsor a family member, and as the petitioner, they bear the responsibility of filing this petition with the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Eligibility requires that the sponsor be a qualified family member and must be at least 21 years old. Upon approval of the I-130 petition and the availability of a visa number, the sponsored relative may apply for a Green Card through consular processing or adjustment of status. It's important to note that multiple petitions may be necessary for different relatives, and each petition must be filed separately. Additionally, USCIS has recently updated guidance, which may impact applications.

The application process involves several steps, including fees, affidavits of support, and financial documentation. Following these steps correctly is vital, as thousands of petitions are rejected or denied each year. Therefore, understanding the procedure and requirements is critical for a successful family-based immigration process.

How Do I Apply For A Family Preference Visa?

To apply for Family Preference Visas, U. S. citizens or lawful permanent residents must first submit Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) to petition for specific family members. This form is vital as it establishes the relationship between the petitioner and the beneficiary, allowing the latter to potentially obtain a Green Card, fiancé(e) visa, or K-3/K-4 visa based on that relationship.

The application process begins with the sponsor completing Form I-130. Upon approval, if a visa number is available, the foreign relative may either undergo consular processing or apply for adjustment of status to become a lawful permanent resident. Unlike Immediate Relative Visas, which have no annual cap and result in quicker processing, Family Preference Visas are limited by annual quotas, meaning applicants may face longer wait times based on their preference category.

Eligible categories under Family Preference typically include more distant relatives such as siblings, adult children, and their respective immediate family members. Each category has specific requirements and waiting periods determined by the Visa Bulletin, which outlines available visa numbers and priority dates.

Thus, while the foundational process of filing an I-130 is the same, the waiting periods and visa availability significantly differ between Immediate Relative and Family Preference categories.

Who Qualifies As A Family Member?

The definition of a family member encompasses a variety of relationships, which include spouses, parents, siblings, grandparents, children, step-parents, step-children, foster parents, and foster children, as well as guardians and domestic partners of any orientation. Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), eligible employees are entitled to unpaid leave to care for family members with serious health conditions, including a spouse, child, or parent.

A dependent is typically a qualifying child or relative who relies on someone for financial support and can be claimed for tax deductions. The law also recognizes individuals related by blood or affinity whose relationship is akin to family. Documentation may be needed to clarify these relationships. Additionally, the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of protected leave to care for a seriously ill family member.

Policies may differ across organizations regarding paid leave for the death of immediate family members. Broadly, family members can include various connections by blood, adoption, or marriage, emphasizing the extensive nature of familial bonds. Immediate family typically includes parents, siblings, and children.

How Much Income Is Required To Sponsor A Spouse?

As of August 2024, the minimum income required for a household of two to sponsor a family member or spouse for a green card is $25, 550. This requirement is based on 125% of the HHS Poverty Guidelines, while active-duty military members must meet a lower threshold of 100%. If the sponsor's income falls short, income from other adult household members can be included, provided they agree to financially support the sponsored individual. A joint sponsor can also be utilized, as long as they meet their own income requirements.

Income alone, or a combination of income and assets, can demonstrate eligibility for sponsorship. The household size affects income thresholds, which USCIS considers when determining eligibility, to avoid granting green cards to individuals who may become public charges. For marriage-based green card applications, the income requirement is stringent; however, in other cases, such as non-marriage-based family sponsorships, this may not apply.

Meanwhile, in the UK, the income requirement for sponsoring a foreign spouse typically starts at £18, 600 annually, increasing for family visa applications to £29, 000. Overall, sponsors must ensure their income meets the established federal or applicable international poverty guidelines to proceed with the sponsorship process.

Who Can Apply For Family Reunification?

Refugees, asylees, Afghan parolees, and SIV holders can apply to reunite with certain family members in the USA through designated programs. This includes information specific to eligible individuals, as beneficiaries themselves cannot initiate the family reunification parole process. Only those who receive an invitation can submit Form I-134A to support a beneficiary's request. Eligibility generally requires the petitioner to be a principal, with provisions for individuals from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Cuba, and Haiti to reunite with their families.

Refugees and asylees can apply to bring parents, spouses, and unmarried children under 21 to the U. S. Various programs, such as Form I-730 and Affidavit of Relationship, exist to facilitate this. Upon approval, families can reunite, allowing them to live and work in the U. S. for three years. Newly added Ecuadorian nationals are also eligible under these processes.

U. S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can sponsor immediate family members, including spouses and children. Eligibility involves the petitioner being at least 21 years old and meeting specific immigration requirements. Overall, different pathways and criteria apply to support family reunification for refugees and asylees in the U. S.

How Do I Apply For A Family Member?

To apply for a family member as a legal permanent resident, you must submit an application under a preferential category, primarily using Form I-130 to sponsor them. Each individual needs their own Form I-130, which can be submitted online or by mail. The categories include unmarried sons or daughters over 21 of U. S. citizens. If a disabled individual receives Medicaid, states may permit a family member to be a paid caregiver, often via a consumer-directed personal assistance program.

For immigration, immediate relatives including spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents can be petitioned. The U. S. citizen or permanent resident must file the I-130 petition firstly, and individuals sponsored must meet specific age requirements. The process could take several years, emphasizing the importance of timely applications. For other family members, separate DS-160 forms are required for visa application. In caring for a family member, you can access benefits through programs like the VA’s Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.