Immigration Law Is All About Family

How can you help your children enter the United States?

On Behalf of | Mar 29, 2022 | Family Immigration

Parents work hard because they want their children to have good lives. People who move to the United States often do so for the opportunity it will provide them and their children. Once you arrive, your main goal may be to reconnect with family members and help support them in their immigration efforts.

Once you have the documentation and legal right to be in the United States, you can help your family come to the country, too. You may hope to bring your children to the United States so that they can build a career and a family here.

How can you help your children emigrate?

If you have a visa

People can get visas to legally travel to the United States for work, education and family reasons. Visas often allow foreign nationals to stay in the country for a fixed amount of time. Certain visas are eligible for renewal for additional months or years in the United States.

Those who qualify for visas can often bring immediate family members to the United States. Unmarried children under 21 can qualify for a visa when their parent has a visa. 

If you have a green card

As a lawful permanent resident, you can spend the rest of your life in the United States. You will feel confident to buy property here and pursue a career. You also have the opportunity to sponsor close family members for green cards through the family preference visa program.

Unmarried children who are not yet 21 years old can potentially get a green card because you have one. There is also a lower preference category for unmarried children over the age of 21.

If you become a citizen

Citizens have the most options for helping family members enter the country. Citizens can bring children to the United States with family preference visas just like permanent residents can. Married children can potentially qualify for family preference visas if they have a parent who is a citizen.

Family preference visas, particularly those that apply to permanent residence, often fall far short of the number of annual applications. Parents may need to apply more than once to get a visa for their child. Some parents may consider naturalization to expand the immigration opportunities they can offer their children.

Learning more about family-based immigration rules can help those who want to reconnect with their children currently living abroad.