Family Based Visa

As a general matter, U.S. citizens and current lawful permanent residents can petition certain family members for lawful permanent residence.  However, the amount of time an applicant must wait before his application is processed ranges from a few months to up to 20 years, if not more.  The waiting time is determined by several factors, including the relation to the petitioner (whether the petitioner is your spouse, child, parent, sibling, etc.), whether you are single or married and which country you are from.  Your attorney will help you determine if you are eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence through one or more family members, and whether you may also apply on a basis other than family relationships, in order to maximize your options to obtain lawful permanent residence and in the shortest time possible.