Family-Based

One of the most common ways for people to get a green card is through a family member. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can help certain family members immigrate to the United States. This is a two-step process. First, the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files a family visa petition. Second, the foreign national relative files an application to become a permanent resident. Each step involves different legal and factual issues.

As a national expert on these issues, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) provides ongoing trainings on the family-based immigration process, answers case-specific questions from practitioners, authors a comprehensive manual, Families & Immigration: A Practical Guide, and advocates locally and federally in support of immigrant families.

Latest in Family-Based

Guide to Filling out the New USCIS Public Charge Form I-944

05/29/2020

The I-944 is USCIS’ new public charge form, part of implementing the Department of Homeland Security’s public charge rule that took effect on February 24, 2020. Among other changes that will make it harder for moderate- and low-income immigrants to pass a public charge test, the new public charge rule includes details for scrutinizing the statutory factors involved in evaluating public charge...

Guide to Gathering Supporting Evidence for the New USCIS Public Charge Form I-944

05/29/2020

Practice Alert: Temporary Changes to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Response to COVID-19

05/28/2020

This practice alert provides a brief summary of temporary changes U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made in response to COVID-19. Changes include suspension of all in-person services including interviews and biometrics appointments, acceptance of photocopies in place of original signatures, extensions for Requests for Evidence (RFEs), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs), and...

Comment on USCIS policy manual instructions for adjustment applications under the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (LRIF)

05/15/2020

On May 7, 2020, ILRC co-authored and signed on to a comment opposing recently published USCIS policy manual instructions for adjustment applications under the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (LRIF). USCIS took a restrictive view of the LRIF statute and published administrative guidance which would disqualify persons who should be eligible under the statutory language. The LRIF statute...

ILRC Comment Submitted Opposing Revisions to I-864 Affidavit of Support

05/12/2020

On May 8, 2020, ILRC submitted a comment to USCIS opposing a recent USCIS Information Collection notice published in the Federal Register on April 10, 2020 to overhaul the form I-864 Affidavit of Support. USCIS used a form change process under the Paperwork Reduction Act to propose extensive changes in the I-864, I-864 A and I-864 EZ which would further discourage sponsors from pledging support...