Bringing family members to the United States is one of the most meaningful things immigration law makes possible — and one of the most procedurally demanding. Latif Law guides Columbus families through every step of the family-based immigration process.
Family-based immigration divides into two tracks based on the relationship between the petitioner and the immigrant. Understanding which track applies to you determines how long the process will take — and what your options are.
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens have no annual visa cap. Visas are always available — the wait is determined only by government processing times, not a queue.
Typical timeline: 12–24+ months depending on USCIS and consulate processing
Preference categories are subject to annual visa caps. Cases wait in a queue until a visa number becomes available — waits can stretch years or decades.
Timeline varies by category and country of birth — check the monthly Visa Bulletin
I-130 petition, I-485 adjustment of status (if your spouse is in the U.S.), or CR-1/IR-1 consular processing (if your spouse is abroad). We handle the full package including the affidavit of support.
Learn more about spousal green cardsBring your fiancé to the U.S. for marriage within 90 days. After the wedding, we file for adjustment of status to permanent residence. A faster entry option for couples not yet married.
Learn more about K-1 visasU.S. citizens age 21 or older can petition for a parent's permanent residence. Parents are immediate relatives — no visa cap applies. We prepare the full I-130 package and guide parents through the interview.
Learn more about parent green cardsPetitions for unmarried children under 21 (immediate relatives) and adult or married children (preference categories F1/F3). We advise on aging-out risks and the CSPA calculation for children approaching age 21.
See family preference categoriesU.S. citizens can petition for brothers and sisters under the F4 category. Wait times are long, but filing early locks in the priority date. We file the I-130 and help clients maintain the petition through address changes and status updates.
Learn more about sibling petitionsSpouses who received a 2-year conditional green card must file I-751 to remove the conditions within 90 days before the card expires. We prepare the joint petition and advise on waiver options for qualifying circumstances.
Learn more about I-751After meeting residency requirements, most green card holders can apply for U.S. citizenship. We review your eligibility, prepare the N-400 application, and help you prepare for the civics and English interview.
Learn more about naturalizationEvery family-based immigrant visa requires a legally binding financial sponsorship. We review income requirements, advise on joint sponsors, and ensure your I-864 package is complete before USCIS or the consulate reviews it.
Learn about the affidavit of supportAlmost all family-based immigration cases start with Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. Filing the I-130 establishes the qualifying family relationship and locks in a priority date — the place in line for a visa number. Here is what the process typically looks like.
The U.S. citizen or permanent resident petitioner files the I-130, supporting documents (proof of status, proof of relationship), and filing fees. For immediate relatives, USCIS approves the I-130 and the case proceeds to the next step without waiting for a visa number. For preference categories, the priority date is established and the beneficiary waits for a visa number to become available per the Visa Bulletin.
Once a visa number is available (or immediately, for immediate relatives), the case moves forward. If the beneficiary is in the U.S., they file Form I-485 (adjustment of status) to get a green card without leaving. If the beneficiary is abroad, the case is forwarded to a U.S. consulate for immigrant visa processing — the beneficiary gets their immigrant visa and enters the U.S. as a permanent resident.
USCIS schedules a biometrics appointment to collect fingerprints and a background check. Applicants also must complete a medical examination by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon (Form I-693). The medical exam checks required vaccinations and certain medical conditions.
Most family-based adjustment of status cases require an in-person interview at a USCIS field office (Columbus is in the Cincinnati District Office's jurisdiction). For consular processing, the interview is at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. The interview focuses on confirming the bona fides of the relationship and the applicant's eligibility.
After approval, the green card is mailed to the applicant's address. Spouses receive a 2-year conditional green card if married less than 2 years at the time of approval — they must file I-751 to remove the conditions before the card expires. All other family members receive a 10-year permanent green card.
Columbus-area cases are typically scheduled at the USCIS Columbus Field Office (395 E Broad St, Suite 300). We attend interviews with clients whenever permitted and prepare them thoroughly for what to expect.
Franklin County is home to large Somali, Nepali, Indian, Hispanic, and Middle Eastern communities — many of whom are navigating family petition processes. Attorney Ali Latif is fluent in Arabic and works with interpreters for other languages.
Latif Law focuses on affirmative family immigration — bringing family members here and securing their status. We do not currently handle removal defense or immigration court proceedings. If you need removal defense, we can provide a referral.
Attorney Latif is fluent in Arabic, making Latif Law a natural fit for Arabic-speaking families in Columbus navigating the immigration system. Consultations can be conducted entirely in Arabic upon request.
The process begins with filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with USCIS. U.S. citizens petitioning for a spouse, parent, or child under 21 face no annual visa cap — processing is limited only by government timelines. Permanent residents, or U.S. citizens petitioning for adult children or siblings, are subject to annual visa quotas and may wait years or more.
A K-1 visa brings your fiancé to the U.S. to marry within 90 days, after which they file for a green card here. A spousal immigrant visa (CR-1/IR-1) is filed while your spouse is abroad — they receive the green card at a U.S. consulate and enter already as a permanent resident. The best route depends on where your partner lives and how quickly you want to be together in the U.S.
Yes — parents of U.S. citizens who are at least 21 years old are immediate relatives, meaning there is no visa cap and no waiting line for a visa number. The process is faster than most family preference categories. The parent files I-485 if in the U.S. or goes through consular processing if abroad.
Immediate relative cases (spouse, parent, minor child of a U.S. citizen) typically take 12–24+ months with USCIS and consulate processing. Preference category cases like sibling petitions (F4) can take 10–20+ years depending on the beneficiary's country of birth, due to annual visa caps.
Form I-864 is a legally binding contract in which the U.S. petitioner agrees to financially support the immigrant at or above 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. The obligation lasts until the immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, works 40 qualifying quarters, permanently departs the U.S., or dies. If income requirements aren't met, a joint sponsor may be added.
Schedule a consultation to discuss your family's immigration situation and the options available to you.