Family green cards
Residency through a spouse, a parent or a child
Most of my green card cases start with a citizen or resident who wants a husband, a mother or a son here for good.
Some families can finish the process without leaving the country. Others need an interview at a consulate abroad, and sometimes a waiver before it. The first meeting is for telling those paths apart, honestly, before anyone files a form.
What I handle
Spouses of U.S. citizens and residents
Parents of adult U.S. citizens
Sons and daughters, married or single
Adjustment of status or consular processing
Unlawful presence waivers
Removing conditions on a two-year card
The usual order of a family case
Dates vary by relationship and country. You get an estimate in writing at the start.
- 01
Step 1: The petition
The citizen or resident files to show the family relationship, with birth or marriage records and proof of status.
- 02
Step 2: The green card application
If the relative can apply from here, we file for residency, a work permit and a travel permit together. If not, the case moves to the consulate.
- 03
Step 3: Fingerprints and the interview
USCIS takes fingerprints and photos, then calls the couple or the family in. We rehearse the week before.
- 04
Step 4: The card
The card arrives by mail. For a marriage under two years old, we file again near the end of the second year.
Questions about family green cards
Can my spouse apply without leaving the country?
Often, if they entered with a visa or were inspected at the border. If they weren’t, the path usually runs through a consulate abroad, and a waiver filed first can shorten the time apart. I’ll tell you which applies after reading the entry records.
How long does it take?
It depends on the relationship and the country. Spouses and parents of citizens wait the least; brothers and sisters of citizens can wait many years. I give you an estimate in writing, with the government’s current processing times beside it.
Can my spouse work while we wait?
When we apply for residency from here, we usually ask for a work permit at the same time. It often arrives months before the green card.
What if there’s an old deportation order or an arrest?
Tell me at the first meeting. Some records change the path and a few close it, but every one has to be dealt with before we file.
Start with the entry records
Bring passports, any I-94 record and every notice you’ve received. We’ll sort out the path in the first hour.