Family-based immigration is the most common path to a green card in the United States, but it is also one of the most misunderstood. The category your relative falls into, whether you are a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident, and where your relative lives today all decide how long the process takes and which forms are required.
Our Pittsburgh family based immigration lawyers map out the entire route before anything is filed: which petition to start with, how to handle the visa bulletin wait, whether your relative can adjust status inside the U.S. or must process through a consulate abroad, and what evidence will satisfy USCIS the first time.
Situations we help with
Petitioning for parents
U.S. citizens over 21 can sponsor parents as immediate relatives with no annual cap. We prepare the petition, financial support documents and the consular or adjustment filing.
Children who are about to turn 21
Age-out problems can push a child into a slower category. We analyze Child Status Protection Act calculations to preserve your child's place.
Sibling petitions with long waits
Brothers and sisters of citizens face waits measured in years. We file correctly now so the priority date is locked in and nothing has to be redone later.
Prior visa overstays or entries
A relative's past immigration history can trigger bars. We identify waiver eligibility before you invest time and filing fees.
Not sure if this applies to you?
A short conversation can tell you whether you qualify and what to do first. There's no cost for the first consultation.
Call Now for a Free ConsultationHow we handle your case
- 1
Eligibility review
We confirm the family relationship category, check for inadmissibility issues and estimate a realistic timeline.
- 2
Petition preparation
We assemble the I-130 with relationship evidence that answers USCIS questions before they are asked.
- 3
Visa or adjustment stage
We move your relative through the National Visa Center or file the I-485 locally, including the I-864 support affidavit.
- 4
Interview and approval
We prepare your family for the interview in Pittsburgh, Cleveland or abroad and respond to any Requests for Evidence.
What you gain
- A clear, written timeline for your relative's green card
- Fewer Requests for Evidence and avoidable delays
- Protection of priority dates and age-out rights
Local help from Pittsburgh to Wayne County, OH
Families across Allegheny County, Wayne County, Ohio and the surrounding 80-mile region file their adjustment cases with the USCIS Pittsburgh Field Office or the Cleveland Field Office. We know how each office schedules interviews and what officers there tend to focus on, which helps us prepare you for what actually happens in the room.