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Family-Based Permanent Resident Status (“Green Card”)
Immigration Attorneys in Los Angeles, Lawyer, Lawyer, Attorney > Family Based Green Cards > Family-Based Permanent Resident Status (“Green Card”)
Family unification is a major objective of U.S. immigration laws. Several carefully defined groups are eligible to immigrate to the U.S. based upon close family relationships. Immigrant visas are always immediately available in unlimited numbers for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. An immediate relative is classified as an unmarried child under 21 years of age or spouse of a U.S. citizen, and the parents of a U.S. citizen over 21 years of age. The Immigration and Naturalization Service must be satisfied that in an application based on a marriage the marriage is not only legal but that a bona fide husband and wife relationship exists. Severe penalties may be imposed for fraudulent applications.
The Immigration Act allocates a total of 465,000 visas to other categories of relatives: Adult unmarried children of U.S. citizens qualify for the Family Based 1st preference category; unmarried children under 21 years of age and spouses of permanent residents qualify for the Family Based 2A category; unmarried adult children of permanent residents qualify for the Family Based 2B category; married children of U.S. citizens qualify for the Family Based 3rd preference category; and brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens over 21 years of age qualify for the Family Based 4th preference category. For some of these categories there is a shortage of visas under the annual quotas and a long waiting period may be required until permanent resident status can be granted and the person issued a “green card”. In many cases a petition must first be filed with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in order to establish a priority date under the quota system.
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“… the best gift you provide this office is the wonderful service you provide to our referrals and I look forward to working with you for many years to come.
“Thank you so very much fordoing such a great job on my application. I never thought I would get permanent resident card in such a short time. Thank you and your staff!”
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“Thank you for all your help in obtaining my citizenship this year. I don’t think that anyone else would have been able to do as good job as you did for me. I was able to complete in the U S. Karate Nationals in time and made a U. S. Team pod this year. I [...]
“Needless to say, I couldn’t have done it without you and I still count my blessing for having found you, many years ago. Every step of the way, you were there; every step of the way you counseled and reassured me. I just wanted to thank you. Your efficiency and meticulousness got me where I [...]
