Related to a U.S. Citizen, but Not an Immediate Relative? You May Still be Eligible for a Green Card

For those of you who do not fall into the category of immediate relative, you may still have a chance at applying for a green card through a family member. People who belong to the “family preference” category include children who are unmarried and older than 21, children who are married (any age), and siblings – in this last case, the U.S. citizen must be over the age of 21.

Unlike the process for immediate relatives, there are a limited number of visas that are issued each year for this category. For this reason, the relative living abroad must wait until they are issued a visa number. The wait depends on the number of applicants for that particular visa during that year and other factors such as processing and government handling of requests.

If you are already in the U.S., your relative must file Form I-130. When it is approved, you must wait until the priority date in the family preference category becomes current. The priority date is the date when the I-130 is properly sent. When it becomes current, you can file the I-485 which will allow you to adjust your status. Eventually, the adjustment process will result in your status as a permanent resident.

If you are outside the U.S., you must undergo the process of consular processing. This type of processing occurs when USCIS works with the Department of State to issue a visa on an I-130 that has been approved. When the Department of State issues you the visa, you can travel abroad and will become a permanent resident when you enter the U.S.

As with most immigration cases, certain factors must be taken into consideration when filing for a green card or citizenship. For one, sometimes it is possible for a person to reach 21 years of age and still be classified as a child. As per the Child Status Protection Act, your child’s age can be frozen to the date when you filed the I-130. If your child was 19 years old when you filed, it may be possible for the child to still be considered at that age.

Also, if you are the child of a U.S. citizen, the status you belong to can change with marriage. If you get married, your status will change from “unmarried son or daughter” to “married child”. This change will result in delays in processing your application for a green card or when your visa will become available. You must keep USCIS informed on any changes in your marital status. Even if the I-130 has been filed, USCIS requires that you keep the agency informed about any changes to your application.

Immigration law is detailed and, at times, difficult to understand. If you are unsure about any policies or requirements, please contact Attorney Phillip Kim.

Immediate Relatives of a U.S. Citizen and the Green Card

One of the most popular ways of becoming a U.S. citizen is through an immediate family member. When it comes to applying for a visa, immediate relatives are given top priority. There are an unlimited number of visas available for family members. So, if you are an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, you will not need to be waitlisted until a visa number becomes available. Usually, a visa should be available right away.

You are designated as an immediate relative if you are the spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen. As a child, you must be under the age of 21 and unmarried. If you are applying as the parent, the U.S. citizen must be at least 21 years of age.

You may apply for a green card either while you are in the U.S. or while you are abroad.

If you are currently in the U.S., you can complete the application process in one step: you file an I-485 and your U.S. citizen relative petitions with Form I-130. This must be done at the same time. Filing forms can be complicated, and one mistake could result in a rejection of your request. It is recommended that you seek the assistance of an attorney who is specialized in immigration to help you file these forms.

Sometimes, the petitioner (the U.S. citizen you are related to) files the I-130 early. In this case, you can still file an I-485 as long as the petitioner’s request has not been rejected. When you receive a Notice of Action that tells you that the I-130 has been approved, you can submit from I-485. You will have to include a copy of the receipt or approval notice.

If you are not currently in the U.S., but are an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, you have a different process to go through. First, the U.S. citizen must file form I-130 and it must be approved by USCIS. When USCIS approves of the petition, you must wait until they notify you that you are eligible to apply for a visa. When a visa is available, it will be issued to you. Once you have your visa, you can travel with it and you will become a U.S. permanent resident when you enter the U.S. If you fail to apply for a visa within one year after the Department of State has told you that you are eligible, your petition could be terminated. This entire process is known as consular processing.

Some conditions make it difficult for you to apply for a visa or green card through an immediate relative. In immigration, good timing makes all the difference. If you are applying as a child of a U.S. citizen, you must apply before you reach the age of 21. Once you pass that age, you will be moved into a different visa preference category that will make it more difficult to apply through a U.S. citizen parent. A visa may not be available to you immediately, and this will cause a delay in adjusting your status or processing your request for a green card. So, it’s important to begin the visa application process as early as possible.

On the same note, sometimes it is possible for a person to pass the age of 21 and still legally be called a “child”. Under the Child Status Protection Act, it is possible that USCIS will determine your age based on the date your parent files the I-130 for you. For example, if a parent files the form while the child is 20 years old, it may be possible to request that the child’s age be determined by that date.

Another factor that will make the immigration process lengthier and sometimes impossible is marriage. If you are under the age of 21, applying for a green card through a U.S. citizen parent, and married, then you no longer fall in the category of “immediate relative”. This means that your status will change from top priority for a visa to third priority, and a visa will not be available for you right away. It is important to keep USCIS updated on any change in your marital status after the I-130 has been filed and before you receive a visa or permanent status.

Finally, some situations we have come across specifically include:

A spouse has entered the U.S. with a different type of visa (sometimes a student visa or visitor’s visa)

The spouse of family member’s visa has expired and they are seeking a change in status or to apply for a green card through an immediate relative

Green card renewal – you can renew your green card whether it is expired or not. Past criminal convictions will affect your chances for obtaining a renewal.

If you have any questions about applying for a visa or green card through an immediate relative, please contact Attorney Phillip Kim.

Good Moral Character: Does it Apply to You?

If you have been researching immigration laws, you might have come across the terms “good moral character”. Many avenues of applying for citizenship require that the applicant be of good moral character. In fact, the naturalization process requires this of all applicants. The concept of good character is ambiguous and confusing for many people who are hoping to become U.S. citizens. At the Law Offices of Phillip Kim, we have had many clients approach us with questions about their moral character and whether it will prevent them from becoming citizens. We’ve written this article to clear the air on what it means to have good moral character.

First and foremost, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will look at your criminal record. Certain crimes will result in barring you from becoming a U.S. citizen. These crimes include murder and aggravated felonies. Other less serious offenses might result in a short-term ban. During this time, the applicant will not be eligible for citizenship. Form N-400 is the form used to apply for U.S. citizenship. The form asks many questions about your criminal background. We urge you to respond truthfully and do not omit any criminal charges that were filed against you, even if they are no longer on record or expunged. If USCIS finds out about an issue from your past, you can be denied. Even minor events should be reported.

If you fall into the category of those who have a criminal record, you will need to send a copy of all documents pertaining to your case. For most, these documents include arrest warrants, reports, and court documents. You may also want to consider sending statements or examples of evidence that show your side of the story.

Some clients worry about traffic violations. You do not need to send documents for a traffic incident unless alcohol or drugs were involved. If a traffic violation resulted in an arrest, you will not need to send documents if the penalty involved points on your driver’s license or you were only forced to pay a fine less than $500.

An important note to keep in mind is that some serious crimes come with equally serious consequences. You can be removed (deported) for those crimes. In these cases, USCIS suggests that you seek the assistance of an immigration attorney.

While your criminal record is the primary tool used to determine whether or not you have good moral character, another factor will also jeopardize your plan of becoming a U.S. citizen: lying during interviews. Even if you get away with lying during an interview, if USCIS finds out that you lied later on, your citizenship can be taken away.

In addition, certain specific acts may classify you as someone who does not have good moral character. These include but are not limited to:

            Failure to pay child support

            Illegal activities such as prostitution or polygamy

            Crimes that involve fraud

            Crimes against the government

Being in jail or another institution for 180 days or more during the past 5 years (3 years if you are applying through marriage with a U.S. citizen)

For more information about good moral character, contact Attorney Phillip Kim at (619) 752-5379 or visit him on the web:

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