Family immigration
Family Immigration: Green Cards for Spouses, Fiancé(e)s and Relatives
Bring your spouse, fiancé(e), parent, child or sibling to the United States, or keep the green card you already have. Each service below lists every government fee by form.
How family immigration works
Almost every family case starts the same way: a U.S. citizen or green card holder proves a qualifying relationship to USCIS, usually with Form I-130, or Form I-129F for a fiancé(e). What happens next depends on two facts. First, the relationship: spouses, unmarried children under 21 and parents of U.S. citizens are immediate relatives with no annual limit, while other relatives wait in line under the Visa Bulletin. Second, location: a relative already in the United States may be able to adjust status here, while a relative abroad completes the case through the National Visa Center and a U.S. embassy.
We start every matter by reviewing the entry record, prior visas, prior marriages and the sponsor's income, because those details decide which route works and what can go wrong. Then you get a written plan and a fee table showing exactly what USCIS and the State Department charge. If a marriage-based green card was conditional, we also handle the I-751 that turns it into a 10-year card.
When a case stalls or is denied without good reason, DC Federal Litigation PLLC can take it to federal court, including mandamus lawsuits for unreasonable delays. Consultations are available in English, Spanish, French and Arabic, from our Washington, DC office or by video.
Family immigration services
Which service fits your situation
| Your situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| Married to a U.S. citizen, spouse is in the U.S. and entered lawfully | Marriage green card |
| Married, spouse lives abroad | I-130 then consular processing |
| Engaged to a U.S. citizen who lives abroad | K-1 fiancé(e) visa |
| Petitioning for a parent, adult child or sibling | I-130 |
| Conditional green card expiring within 90 days | I-751 |
| Relative in the U.S. with an overstay or entry without inspection | I-601A provisional waiver |
Government fees change; confirm on the USCIS fee schedule before filing. Fees are set by regulation in 8 CFR 106.2.
When an agency delays or denies
Filing well is the first defense. When it is not enough, see DC Federal Litigation PLLC's pages on I-130 delays, I-485 delays, I-751 delays, immigrant visa delays and getting your A-File through FOIA.
Frequently asked questions
Who can sponsor a relative for a green card?
U.S. citizens can sponsor a spouse, children and sons or daughters of any age, and, once 21, parents and siblings. Green card holders can sponsor a spouse and unmarried children only. The sponsor must also sign a Form I-864 Affidavit of Support showing income of at least 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, or use a joint sponsor.
Should my relative adjust status in the U.S. or go through an embassy?
It depends on where they are and how they entered. A relative abroad uses consular processing. A relative in the U.S. who was inspected and admitted or paroled can often adjust here, especially as an immediate relative. A relative who entered without inspection usually cannot, and may need a provisional waiver before interviewing abroad.
How long do family cases take?
Times change monthly and vary by form, office and category, so we do not quote a number. USCIS posts current times on its processing times page, and preference relatives also depend on the Visa Bulletin. We send you the live data for your case when we file.
What affects the total cost of a family case?
Government fees are the fixed part: they are set by regulation, listed by form on each page, and paid directly to USCIS or the State Department. The variable part is the case itself, such as prior marriages, a joint sponsor, an entry history that needs explaining, translations, or a Request for Evidence. A paid consultation maps those issues before you commit. Our legal fees are set out in writing in your engagement letter after we review your case.
Do you offer consultations in other languages?
Yes. Consultations are available in English, Spanish, French and Arabic, at our Washington, DC office or by video wherever you are. That helps families whose relatives deal with embassies in Latin America, West and North Africa and the Middle East. Consultations are paid working sessions. If you engage the firm within 30 days, your consultation fee is credited in full toward your initial retainer. You receive a written summary of the recommended route after the call.
Find the right family route
Tell us who you want to bring or keep in the United States. We review the facts, recommend the route, and list the government fees that apply.