Immigration FAQ

If you receive a non-immigrant or permanent visa, your spouse and children younger than 21 are often eligible to obtain visas to accompany you to the United States. If you are a U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident with family members in foreign countries, there are family-based immigration options that can often allow you to sponsor certain close family members for visas.

If you have certain types of visas and/or qualifying relationships, you might be eligible to apply for an adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident (LPR) and to receive a green card. The application and interview process can be complex, and you do not want to risk unnecessary complications or delays. Always discuss a possible green card application with an immigration attorney before you start the process. Once you obtain a green card, it can be valid for up to ten years before you must renew it. If your family member is outside the United States, applying for a green card is called consular processing.

Many people start the immigration process with the goal of eventually becoming a United States citizen. This can be a lengthy process, though citizenship brings many rights, including the inability to be deported. Some requirements to be approved for naturalization include:

• You must be 18 years old or older
• You have had a green card for at least five years (or 3 years if your green card was based on your marriage to  your U.S. Citizen spouse and you are still together)
• You have held a residence in the U.S. continuously for at least five years, and you were physically in the U.S. for at least 30 months of that five-year period
• You have good moral character and no convictions for crimes of moral turpitude
• You can demonstrate the ability to speak, read, and write basic English
• You can pass an exam about basic U.S. government and history