When you experience the opportunity and comfort of living in the United States, you may feel a strong desire to help your family experience the same feelings. Because of your citizenship status, you may have the chance to facilitate the immigration and naturalization of the people you care about.
A family-based immigrant visa is one option you may consider to effectively use your citizenship status to help your close family begin their own immigration experience.
Types of family-based visas
Family-based immigrant visas come in two forms. According to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, you can help both immediate and extended family members. The family preference visa enables you to petition for a distant relative to receive an entry into the United States. Immigration authorities have a list of approved relations for this visa. There is a limitation to the number of petitions you can make for this type of visa each year.
Immediate relative visas enable you to petition for immediate family members to enter the United States including parents, siblings and children. Unlike the family preference visa, you have no limitations to the number of immediate relatives you can petition for each year.
Providing encouragement and support
Your unique position gives you the chance to provide encouragement and support as you assist in other family members’ immigration. Whether prior to their arrival or after they come to the United States, you can use your experience to provide education and assistance as your family members fill out various immigration applications.
You can also look over family members’ applications to verify they have all of the applicable information. Because you have already experienced the process, you can provide instrumental support in answering questions, recommending resources and suggesting strategies.