Athens Family-Based Immigration Lawyer
Help bringing your spouse, fiancé(e), children, parents, or siblings to the United States, or getting a green card for a family member who is already here.
How Family-Based Immigration Works
Most family cases start with a petition. A U.S. citizen or green card holder files Form I-130 to prove a qualifying family relationship. Once USCIS approves it, your relative applies for the green card itself.
- The petition. You file Form I-130 with proof of the relationship, such as birth or marriage certificates.
- The wait, if any. Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens do not wait for a visa number. Other categories wait in line, sometimes for years.
- The green card application. Relatives in the U.S. who qualify can apply through adjustment of status. Relatives abroad go through consular processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
- The interview. Most cases end with an interview at USCIS or a U.S. consulate.
Who Can Petition for a Family Member
If you are a U.S. citizen
- Your spouse
- Your unmarried children under 21
- Your parents, if you are 21 or older
- Your unmarried sons and daughters 21 or older
- Your married sons and daughters
- Your brothers and sisters, if you are 21 or older
Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents are “immediate relatives” with no annual limit. The other categories have yearly limits and waiting periods.
If you are a green card holder
- Your spouse
- Your unmarried children under 21
- Your unmarried sons and daughters 21 or older
Green card holders cannot petition for parents, siblings, or married children. All of these categories have yearly limits, so there is usually a wait. Becoming a citizen can open more options and, for some relatives, shorten the wait.
Family Immigration Matters I Handle
Spouses & marriage-based green cards
Petitions for husbands and wives, the green card application, and preparation for the marriage-based interview.
K-1 fiancé(e) visas
For U.S. citizens engaged to someone abroad. Your fiancé(e) comes to the U.S., you marry within 90 days, and then they apply for a green card.
Adjustment of status
For relatives already in the U.S. who are eligible to apply for a green card without leaving the country.
Consular processing
For relatives outside the U.S.: National Visa Center processing, civil documents, and preparation for the embassy or consulate interview.
Parents, children & siblings
Petitions for parents, sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters, with a clear picture of how long each category may take.
Affidavit of support
Help with Form I-864, the financial sponsorship form most family cases require, including when a joint sponsor is needed.
Careful Preparation, Honest Answers
Family cases are often delayed by small mistakes: a missing document, an inconsistent date, or a past immigration issue nobody explained. Before anything is filed, I review your relative’s history and tell you plainly what options you have and what the risks are.
From there, my team prepares the petition and evidence, tracks the case, responds to any USCIS requests for evidence, and helps you and your relative get ready for the interview. You work directly with me throughout, and an interpretation service is available if your family prefers another language.
Family-Based Immigration FAQs
How long does a family-based green card take?
It depends on the relationship, whether the petitioner is a citizen or a green card holder, and the relative’s country of birth. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens do not wait for a visa number, so their timeline is mostly government processing time. Other categories can wait years. The State Department publishes current waits each month in the Visa Bulletin.
Can my relative get a green card without leaving the U.S.?
Sometimes. Adjustment of status is available to relatives who are in the U.S. and eligible, which often depends on how they entered and their immigration history. I review this carefully at the consultation, because leaving the U.S. can trigger bars to returning for some people.
Is there an income requirement to sponsor a relative?
Most petitioners must file an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) showing household income of at least 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. If your income falls short, assets or a joint sponsor may help.
Should my fiancé(e) come on a K-1 visa, or should we marry first?
Both are options for U.S. citizens. A K-1 visa brings your fiancé(e) here to marry within 90 days, followed by a green card application. Marrying first and filing a spousal petition is the other route. The better choice depends on your timeline, costs, and circumstances.
What should I bring to my consultation?
Bring passports, birth and marriage certificates, any divorce decrees from prior marriages, any notices from USCIS, and copies of past immigration applications for you and your relative.
Bring Your Family Together
Your first consultation is free. Book online or call or text the office, and you will speak with attorney Samuel E. Thomas, not a call center.