Have relatives in USA?

Foreigners with relatives in the United States may be able to acquire permanent residence through these relationships. The relationships that can lead to permanent residence can be divided into two categories: immediate relative and preference categories.

Immediate Relatives

The immediate relative category refers to the spouse, parents, and children of United States citizens. A child is defined as a person under age 21 who is unmarried and is a natural child or adopted child as long as the adoption took place before the child turned 16. Stepchildren, children of a spouse, are also immediate relatives if the marriage of their parent and stepparent took place before they reached age 18. Visas are immediately available for those in these relationships and as a result application for permanent residence can be made without any waiting. Upon filing the alien can receive employment authorization – a work permit. There is still an additional wait until an interview and the actual granting of a permanent resident visa.

For foreigners

Foreigners wishing to apply for a variety of non-immigrant visa categories (or to renew them), including F-1 & M-1 Student; H-1B Professional Worker; R-1 Religious Worker, L-1 Multinational Executive, etc., have the option to apply for a visa directly to U.S. consulates located in either Canada or Mexico, without the need to return to their country of residence. We assist those clients with a full range of non-immigrant visa application options at U.S. Consulates in either Canada or Mexico, with monthly attorney accompanied visa application trips to U.S. Consulates in Canada and Mexico. Our office also files E-1 Treaty Trader and E-2 Treaty Investor visa applications with U.S. consulates around the world.