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

Immigration Options for Military Families

10/01/2018

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has made available two immigration options for family members of military personnel: Parole-in-Place and Deferred Action. These policies were set in place to aid those serving in the United States military by protecting eligible family members who reside in the United States. These policies can help family members of military service personnel...

Immigration Options for Undocumented Immigrant Children

08/31/2018

This resource is a collection of one-page fact sheets on various forms of immigration relief meant to provide a brief overview of options that may exist for undocumented immigrant children. While geared towards children and youth, it may also be helpful as an introduction to some of the immigration options available to adults as well. This is not meant to be an exhaustive resource. We recommend...

An Overview of Public Charge

08/06/2018

Since the inauguration of President Trump, three separate documents related to “public charge” have been leaked. The most recent document was a draft proposed regulation circulated in the press in March 2018. A proposed regulation seeking to make major changes to existing public charge law is expected to be published this summer in the Federal Register, yet no new regulation has been implemented...

Living in Limbo: A Guide to Understanding Your Rights, Benefits, and Obligations When You Have No Immigration Status

07/20/2018

Every year, millions of people wait for Congress to advance a solution that would provide stability for undocumented persons and their families. The numbers left waiting and worrying without a pathway to citizenship, protection from deportation, or the ability to work under the Trump Administration has only increased with the limitations on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)...

Consular Processing Practice Alert on Public Charge and Affidavit of Support Issues

07/02/2018

The purpose of this practice alert is to summarize changes practitioners are starting to see in how public charge inadmissibility is being evaluated in consular processing immigrant visa cases, following the January 2018 revisions to the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) on assessing public charge, and to provide recommendations for how to prepare clients who will be consular processing in light of...