Family Petitions

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United States citizens and permanent residents can assist their qualifying foreign relatives in petitioning for citizenship and permanent residency in the United States. In order for a foreign relative to become a lawful U.S. permanent resident, the following general criteria must be met:

  1. The foreign national applying for a visa or green card must have a relative who is either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States. The applicant’s relative must be able to show documentation of their status as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, as well as proof of their relationship to the applicant
  2. The applicant’s relative must prove his/her financial income is 125% above the poverty line for his/her entire family, including the applicant. If the relative does not meet this financial criterion, then he/she can become a joint sponsor with another relative, or the applicant’s assets can be taken into account
  3. If the applicant’s relative is a U.S. citizen, he/she must prove that the applicant is his/her:
    • Child under the age of 21 years
    • Spouse
    • Unmarried son or daughter over 21 years old
    • Married son or daughter (any age)
    • Brother or sister of U.S. citizen (if sponsoring relative is at least 21 years old)
    • Parent of U.S. citizen (if sponsoring relative is at least 21 years old)
  4. If the applicant’s sponsoring relative is a U.S. permanent resident, he/she must prove that the applicant is his/her:
    • Husband or wife
    • Unmarried son or daughter of any age

If both the applicant and his/her relative meet these criteria, then the petitioning process can begin by filing a Petition for Alien Relative.

If you are interested in petitioning a foreign relative, contact our immigration attorneys at The Toribio Law Firm, PL for an initial consultation today.