When your family members live in different parts of the world, sponsoring them to receive visas and relocate to the United States can be a complex and stressful process. One area of difficulty is obtaining updates on their applications.
You have multiple available methods to check the status of your family-based visa application. Our immigration attorneys could help significantly with family visa application tracking in Lombard. We could provide legal advice and guidance, review paperwork before submission, and make sure you stay informed throughout the process.
Family-based immigration is a foundation of the American immigration system, allowing U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to sponsor specific family members to reunify. After their applications are approved, those family members may relocate to this country, attend school or training, or obtain gainful employment.
When sponsoring a relative for a family visa, the petitioner is the U.S. citizen or LPR submitting the application. The petitioner’s requirements include being at least 18 years old and currently living in the U.S. The beneficiary is the foreign national relative seeking a visa to relocate to the U.S.
Family-based immigration processes fall within two primary categories, and each has different specific rules and processing times. The first group is immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, including spouses, children, and parents. There are no yearly limits on the number of these visas the federal government grants, and the processing time is usually quicker for this group.
The second group is called family preference and concerns relatives more distantly related to U.S. citizens and LPRs. Annual limits depend on the family relationship, and processing times can be longer. Since tracking these family visa applications may be challenging, many petitioners reach out to a qualified Lombard immigration attorney for help.
During the immigration process, certain basic steps must be followed. The first step is for the U.S. citizen or LPR to file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, to initiate the process and establish the family relationship. The petitioner must file a separate application for each family relationship. After the federal agency reviews the petition and supporting evidence, they will approve it, deny it, or request additional information.
Knowing how to check for status updates is essential when navigating the process. One option is to visit the U.S. Department of State website and use the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) status tracker for application updates. After entering the website, the applicant must select whether he or she is requesting status for an immigrant or non-immigrant visa and input the application case number. The CEAC system will provide the current application status, whether any action is necessary, and the estimated processing times.
An applicant can also visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website to check an application’s status. There, he or she can enter the 13-character identifier, consisting of 10 numbers and three letters, or create an account to check the status. Various potential processes are available to track family visa applications, and a knowledgeable Lombard lawyer could provide the specifics during a consultation.
Family visa applications involve U.S. citizens and LPRs sponsoring family members living abroad. The U.S. government limits the number of visas they grant each year, depending on the type of family relationship, and the waiting times may vary significantly.
Contact our immigration lawyers today to learn more about family visa application tracking in Lombard.
