Immigrating to the United States is a big topic right now in Illinois and across the country as reforms are being made. There is a legal process for moving to the country that must be followed to avoid future issues with deportation. If you have family that would like to come to this country, you need to follow the specific procedures outlined by the federal government.
Many people choose to move to the U.S. to be with family. This is so common the government has created a family immigration process, according to the U.S. Department of State. If you have a relative that wants to move here, he or she must first make sure it is allowed under the family visa category. Relatives include siblings, parents, spouses or fiancés and children.
You must also meet some requirements. You must be a legal, permanent resident. You can have a green card, but it must be in valid legal standing. You must also act as the sponsor for your immigrating relative. Before anything else can happen in the process, you have to file paperwork. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services must receive the completed I-130 Petition for Alien Relative.
After the petition is approved, your family member will then move through the immigration process. He or she will have to file more paperwork, pay fees, gain representation and go through investigations. The final steps involve an interview where questions will be asked to further investigate your relative, which allows the immigration officer to make a final decision. While this information should not be taken as legal advice, it can help you understand the process and what to expect.
