San Jose Family-Based and Marriage-Based Green Cards Lawyer 

Green Card Assistance for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens and Family Preference Relatives of Lawful Permanent Residents

If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, certain members of your family living inside or outside of the U.S. may qualify for a family-sponsored green card. Sponsoring green cards for your loved ones can help you take the necessary steps toward reuniting or preserving your family within U.S. borders. 

Our attorney at the Law Offices of Timothy D. Widman has more than 20 years of experience helping individuals and families with immigration matters. Our goal is to provide the best possible service to our clients by tending to their needs with personalized service. Immigration law in the U.S. is very complicated and always changing, but our family-based and marriage-based green cards lawyer in San Jose has the experience and skill necessary to help you begin a new life or continue an existing one with your family in the U.S. 

For more information about our legal services, contact us online or call (408) 780-1684 and request a consultation. 

Legal Requirements for a Family-Based or Marriage-Based Green Card

Due to a high frequency of marriage green card fraud, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) heavily scrutinizes marriage-based green cards. This means that you should ensure you have representation from someone such as our experienced family-based and marriage-based green cards lawyer in San Jose to help you protect your chances of success. 

Qualification for a marriage-based green card begins with these requirements: 

• You are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.  These individuals can sponsor marriage-based green cards for their qualifying family members.
• Your marriage must be legally valid. This means that the laws of the state or country in which you were married officially recognizes your marriage.
• Any previous marriages are terminated. The U.S. recognizes the termination of marriage through divorce or death. If you were legally married to someone other than the person for whom you intend to sponsor a green card, the marriage must first have been legally terminated. Documents you can provide to prove you are not married to anyone else include divorce decrees and death certificates. 
• Your marriage is legitimate. A bona fide marriage is one involving two people who were married to to establish a life together. You must be prepared to present evidence of your relationship and how your relationship evolved, and immigration officials may also ask personal questions about the history and dynamics of your relationship. 

Sponsoring an Immediate Relative as a U.S. Citizen 

The U.S. government considers an immediate relative to be a U.S. citizen’s spouse, unmarried child younger than 21, or parent (if the U.S. citizen is 21 or older)

Whether you were born as a U.S. citizen or achieved citizenship later in life, you can sponsor these members of your family with an immediate relative visa. Keep in mind that you must have documentation supporting your relationship with your loved ones. 

Sponsoring a Family Preference Immigrant as a Lawful Permanent Resident 

If you hold a green card as a lawful permanent resident living in the U.S., you can also secure green cards for certain members of your family. These family preference relatives include your spouse, children, and unmarried sons and daughters 21 years of age or older. 

When sponsoring green cards for these relatives, certain requirements must be met that do not apply to U.S. citizen sponsors. These may include showing that an immigrant visa number is available and proving that the beneficiary is maintaining their status. 

Do You Need Legal Assistance? 

If you wish to sponsor an immediate relative’s or a family preference immigrant's green card, the Law Offices of Timothy D. Widman can help. Our experienced marriage-based green card lawyer in San Jose has the knowledge and skill necessary to help you reunite with your loved ones in the U.S. 

For more information about how we can help, contact us online.