Spousal Visas and Green Card Assistance
It can be extremely difficult if your spouse lives in a different country as you. Helping families unite is one of our primary goals at the law office of R. Sam Levine. Located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, we offer experienced legal representation in a wide range of immigration law matters.
If you need to speak with a Florida immigration lawyer about bringing your spouse to the United States, call our office today at 561-630-9744. For assistance online, contact us by e-mail. We are pleased to offer a free consultation to answer your questions and discuss your options.
Green Cards and U.S. Citizenship for a Spouse
Family based immigration is based on a set of preferences that delineate the availability and wait time for obtaining a visa number (which is necessary to obtain permanent residence status). These categories include:
- Immediate relatives
- Family first preference
- Family second preference
- Family third preference
- Family fourth preference
People who are immediate relatives of a U.S. citizen, including a spouse, are not subject to visa quotas. In addition, immediate relatives do not have to wait for a visa number.
The spouse of a Green Card holder, however, is not defined as an immediate relative. The spouse of a Green Card holder (also called a lawful permanent resident), falls into the family second preference category and must wait for a visa number to become available after his or her immigrant petition is approved.
Once a visa number becomes available, the spouse of a Green Card holder must apply for an adjustment of status to become a permanent resident. As a general rule, people who become a lawful permanent resident may apply for citizenship after three years.
Spousal Visas for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
The spouse of a U.S. citizen may obtain a K3 visa. The fiancé of a U.S. citizen may obtain a K1 visa. In addition to the K visa for the spouse or fiancé of a U.S. citizen, there are a number of visas available for the spouse or children of an U.S. immigrant who has a valid visa. These visas include the H-4 visa for the holder of an H visa; the P-4 visa for the spouse or child of a P visa holder; the O-3 visa for the holder of an O visa; the F-2 visa for the spouse or child of an F-1 student visa holder; and the L-2 visa for the holder of an L visa.
To learn more about these and other spouse visas and child visas, we encourage you to contact our office.
Contact Us
To speak with an attorney or schedule a free consultation, call 561-630-9744. We help people throughout the United States and Canada, Florida, and Palm Beach County, including West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Boynton Beach.
