A common goal for immigrants to the United States is to rejoin their family members. For some, this means relocating to Texas in order to be with loved ones who have already secured residency. If you are already an American citizen or a permanent resident, you might want to bring your loved ones into the country. An experienced immigration lawyer in Dallas may be able to help you reunite your family. Various immigration strategies could be possible in this scenario, so consider discussing your unique situation with a lawyer.
Does the United States Allow Me to Bring My Family Members Into the Country?
Yes, United States immigration policies provide a pathway for family reunification. Generally, these pathways are available to those who have already obtained American citizenship. In some cases, permanent residents (green card holders) may also have the right to bring their loved ones into the country.
Marriage Visas are the Obvious Choice
A marriage visa is perhaps the most obvious choice for family reunification in Texas. If you are an American citizen, you can bring a foreign spouse into the country relatively easily. The government recognizes the right of an American citizen to live comfortably with a spouse of their choosing, and this foreign spouse can expect to receive a green card in a streamlined manner.
Even if you are not yet a permanent resident, you can still petition to bring your foreign spouse into the country. As long as the marriage is legitimate, you should both have the right to live in Texas and (eventually) pursue full citizenship.
Another type of marriage visa is a “fiancée visa.” Also known as a K-1 visa, this strategy lets you bring your loved one into the country even if you are not yet married. This type of visa is only available to citizens, and permanent residents must first obtain full citizenship before taking advantage of this option.
Fiancé visas are also subject to more restrictions. You must marry your spouse-to-be within 90 days of their arrival in the country. A K-1 visa is only a temporary solution, and it provides you with just enough time to get married. After the marriage, the newly arrived spouse must quickly adjust their status and pursue a more long-term green card.
Note that immigration authorities in the United States today are extremely wary of marriage fraud. As a result, couples can expect high levels of scrutiny when pursuing virtually all types of marriage visas. During a green card interview, a couple might face detailed questions about their relationship. Marriage fraud is a serious offense that can lead to major consequences.
What About My Children?
If you are an American citizen, you can also bring “immediate relatives” into the country, other than a spouse. These include your unmarried children and your parents. As long as your children are unmarried and under the age of 21, they should be able to join you in the United States as easily as a spouse would. As long as you are over the age of 21, your parents should receive equally preferential treatment.
These “immediate relative” visas allow your family members to enter the United States with permanent resident status. In other words, they will have green cards. This will allow them to work legally in the country, and they can also pursue full citizenship in the future. Immediate relative visas are extremely popular and widely available, with relatively short wait times.
What are Family Preference Visas?
Family preference visas can also help you bring your family members into the United States. However, these visas fall under a different category than “immediate relative” and spousal visas, and they are more difficult to obtain.
You can pursue a family preference visa even if you are not yet an American citizen. As long as you have a green card, you can file a petition to bring certain relatives into the country as well. For example, you might have a foreign spouse waiting in a different country. If you have already obtained a green card, you could pursue an F2A visa. The same visa type can help you bring your foreign children into the country.
Family preference visas become more challenging under certain circumstances. More distant relatives, such as siblings, generally have a lower chance of being approved for green cards. If your children are married or over the age of 21, you might also struggle to bring them into the country.
Employment Visas Can Also Help With Family Reunification
Many people forget that employment visas can also be extremely helpful for families who want to live together in the United States. If you secure a work visa based on your experience, qualifications, or skills, you can probably bring your close family members with you to the United States.
For example, you might secure employment as an engineer in Dallas. Depending on your circumstances, you might receive an H-1B visa or an O-1 visa in this situation. These work visas (and many others) allow you to bring your spouse and children into the country to accompany you while you pursue your career in the United States. Speak with your lawyer to determine whether you might be a suitable candidate for one of these visas.
Investor and Business Visas May Let You Bring Your Family Members
Finally, you might want to consider business-based visas such as L-1 visas. These visas also allow you to bring your family members as you explore new career opportunities in the United States. Consider speaking to your lawyer about investor visas, such as the new “Gold Card” visa or the EB-5 investor visa.
Can an Immigration Lawyer in Dallas Help Me?
An immigration lawyer in Dallas may be able to help you reunite your family members in the United States. Your lawyer could discuss your various options, including marriage visas and family preference visas. Due to recent policy changes, even simple mistakes now carry serious potential consequences. As a result, it makes sense to approach these strategies in a careful manner. Consider discussing your family’s unique circumstances in more detail with The Presti Law Firm. Contact us at (214) 831-8078 or visit us online.