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How To Apply For Family-Based Immigration In California

  • Aug 9, 2022
  • 3 min read

Updated: Dec 26, 2022

A Quick Intro To Family-Based Immigration In California


Through family-based immigration, a foreign national (anyone who isn't a US citizen) can legally obtain legal permanent residency by linking up with a relative who already legally resides in the US.


To come to the United States to live and work permanently, the immigrant and the citizen or permanent resident must complete the immigration procedure. In addition, the foreign national must be sponsored by a US citizen or permanent resident who can demonstrate that they have sufficient resources to support them after they enter the country.


That said, here's how family immigration laws and how our prescreened California immigration lawyers help clients:


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The following are considered family-based immigrants:

  • Spouse

  • Children

  • Siblings

  • Parent

Although it can seem simple, each type of family-based visa has several nuances. If you're unsure if a family member can qualify, consult prescreened California immigration law attorneys to help you with the documents and other crucial processes.


The right to live and work in the United States is one of the many rights and privileges that come with permanent immigration or lawful permanent residency. The USCIS must approve the I-130 Petition for Alien Relative for you to receive an immigrant visa. Your relative (the sponsor) has filed this petition. In addition, you must submit documentation proving your connection to the relative seeking it.


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The Department of State must determine whether you are already in the country and whether you have access to an immigrant visa number right away. You can seek to have an immigrant visa number allocated to you as one becomes available. If you already reside in the country, you can apply to change your status to that of a lawful permanent resident once you have a visa number.


One approach to applying for an immigrant visa number is using this method. When an immigrant visa number becomes available while you are abroad, you must proceed to the US consular office in your region to finish the application process.


Your relative must sponsor you if you wish to immigrate to the United States under the family-based category. In addition, they must be either a US citizen or a lawful permanent resident.

How to Apply For Family-Based Immigration?

You and your sponsor need to fulfill several requirements to apply for immigration to the US. But first, let's look at how the process goes:

  1. Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) and supporting papers must be submitted by your sponsor on your behalf at a USCIS office. Your sponsor should qualify if:

    1. They are an American citizen or lawful permanent resident.

    2. They can fill out an Affidavit of Support and support you at 125 percent above the legal poverty threshold.

    3. They are related to you.

  2. Your sponsor must submit a petition for a visa to USCIS, which will decide whether to grant it or deny it. If the petition is accepted, USCIS will let your sponsor know.

  3. The National Visa Center of the Department of State receives the approved visa petition from USCIS.

  4. When the visa petition is received, the Center will inform you again when an immigrant visa number becomes available.

  5. The Preference Categories are used to distribute the immigrant visa numbers. In addition, the Department of State's Visa Bulletin allows you to check the status of your visa number allocation.

There are a lot of hoops you need to go through to successfully sponsor someone into the country. So, you should consider talking to a prescreened California immigration lawyer to help you through each crucial step.


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Do you need a top immigration lawyer in California? 1000Attorneys can refer you to a prescreened California lawyer that can best handle your unique claim. Contact us through our 24/7 live chat (or complete our case details submission form) for a free initial consultation.

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