Immigration Law: What to Know About Family Unification

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Immigration law involves a variety of complexities. When navigating it, it’s important to work with an experienced immigration lawyer who can offer clarification and guidance the whole way through. Our team at American Immigration Attorneys is prepared to assist you, as we are a family immigration law firm based in Hoover, Alabama that is dedicated to serving families’ immigration needs.

Immigration Law: What to Know About Family Unification

As a family immigration law firm, we are familiar with family unification, one of the core principles of U.S. immigration law. It is the principle that allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to petition for visas for certain relatives so they can immigrate and gain LPR status. Here are a few things to know about family unification:

  • U.S. citizens who are trying to help an immediate family member already in the U.S. must petition for a visa.
  • Each year, an unlimited number of visas are available for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens include spouses, unmarried minor children (under 21 years old), and parents.
  • A limited number of visas are available each year for non-immediate family members, although this is under the family preference system. This system includes adult children and siblings of U.S. citizens. For LPRs, it includes their spouses and unmarried children.
  • Petitioners are required to meet specific age and financial requirements, while prospective immigrants need to meet standard eligibility criteria.