How To Help A Family Member Become A Citizen

Coming to the United States from your home country can be devastating if you are all alone. Maybe you thought that once you got here and started a life for yourself that you would be able to bring your family to the United States. Fortunately, if you are or have become a citizen it is possible to help a family member become a citizen. The ultimate goal of helping your family member will be to get them a green card so that they can live in the United States. To go through this sponsorship process, you will have to be able to prove that you make enough money to support your relatives should they be granted the ability to come to the United States

If you are considering petitioning to help a family member become a citizen you should keep these points in mind. If you under 21 you will only be able to petition for a:

• Husband
• Wife
• Children (Married or Unmarried)

If you are over 21 you will be able to petition for more relatives:

• Brother
• Sister
• Parents

If you decide to help a family member become a citizen you will need to submit proof that you that are actually related when filing.

The actual form that you will be filling out is called the Form I-130 which helps to prove that you are related to the person you are petitioning for a green card. After the form is received to help a family member, they will be placed in a “line” behind other people from the same country or region who are waiting to be cleared to come to the United States. The place that your family member will be put in line is based on when you file your Form I-130, and it goes without saying that you should submit your documents as soon as possible. When your family member gets to the front of the line, they will then be able to immigrate if they can meet requirements for admissions as well as required background checks.

The time it takes for your petition to go into effect to help your family member become a citizen is different in all situations. If you have any questions about this process or need assistance with this process, we encourage you to discuss the paperwork with a White Plains Immigration Lawyer. At the Law Office of Susan B. Henner, we have helped hundreds of people with immigration issues. If you would like to contact us, we are available at any time to discuss your case at 914-290-5777.