United States Immigration FAQs
How do I immigrate to the United States of America?
The most common type of Immigration application is the I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (Immediate Family based immigration). For a full list of types of visas our office may handle, visit the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services page.
What is the process?
An immigrant (also called a "lawful permanent resident") is a foreign national who has been granted the privilege of permanently living and working in the United States. If you want to become a lawful permanent resident based on the fact that you have a relative who is a citizen of the United States or a relative who is a lawful permanent resident, you must go through a multi-step process:
- You must be eligible for lawful permanent residence based on a family relationship.
- The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must approve an immigrant visa petition for you. This petition is filed by your relative (sponsor) and must be accompanied by proof of your relationship to the requesting relative.
- The Department of State must determine if an immigrant visa number is immediately available to you, even if you are already in the United States. When an immigrant visa number becomes immediately available to you, it means that you can apply to have one of the immigrant visa numbers assigned to you.
If you are already in the United States, you may apply to change your status to that of a lawful permanent resident after a visa number becomes available for you. If you are outside the United States when an immigrant visa number becomes available for you, you must then go to the United States Embassy in Amman to complete your processing.
Am I Eligible for Permanent Residency?
To be eligible for lawful permanent residence based on a family relationship you must meet the following criteria:
- You must have a relative who is a United States citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States who can provide documentation proving their status, and who is willing to sponsor you for lawful permanent residency by filing the I-130 Alien Relative application.
- Your relative must prove that he or she can support you by providing documentation that this or her income is at least 125% above the U.S. poverty level for their household size, which includes you and all other sponsored family members.
- If your relative is a US Citizen and he or she can legally prove you share one of the following relationships, you may be eligible for lawful permanent residency:
- Husband or wife;
- Child under 21 years old;
- Unmarried son or daughter over 21;
- Married son or daughter of any age;
- Brother or sister if you are at least 21 years old; or
- Parents if you are at least 21 years old
- If your relative is a lawful permanent resident and he or she can legally prove you share one of the following relationships, you may be eligible for lawful permanent residency:
- Husband or wife;
- Unmarried son or daughter of any age
Can I apply for my spouse if I am a US citizen or permanent green card holder?
If you are a U.S. citizen and intend to marry a foreign national, there are two major visas that concern you:
- Fiancee Visa (K-1)
- If you would like to bring your fiancé to the U.S. to be married, you will be interested in the fiancé visa (K-1). The fiancé visa is a nonimmigrant (temporary) visa, and after the wedding (assuming that your new spouse wants to remain to live in the U.S. permanently), your new spouse may apply to adjust to permanent resident status.
- Immigrant Visa
- If you plan to marry outside of the U.S., you will be interested in applying for an immigrant visa for your new spouse
What is the Average Waiting Period?
The waiting period for all immigrant visas is determined by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Refer to the USCIS site for approximate waiting times.
How much do you charge?
The cost of Immigration cases are evaluated on a case-by-case basis depending primarily on the work required as well as the number of persons in each case.
