Family Based Immigration
Skilled Manhattan Attorney Guiding Families Through the U.S. Immigration System
Immigrating to the United States as a family should be a time of hope—not confusion, stress, or fear. Unfortunately, U.S. immigration law is anything but simple, especially for families trying to reunite or keep their loved ones from being deported. From filing petitions and attending interviews to responding to RFEs or removal proceedings, every step matters—and every mistake can cause painful delays or denials.
We provide strategic, compassionate legal guidance for families navigating the immigration system. Based in Lower Manhattan, we work with individuals, couples, and entire families across NYC and beyond to ensure their applications are properly filed, supported with the right documentation, and given the best possible chance of success.
Whether you’re sponsoring a spouse, fighting to stay in the U.S. with your children, or applying for a green card through a family member, Attorney Yifei He is here to support you with personalized advice and a hands-on legal strategy.
Call 917-338-7678 today to schedule a free consultation.
Your Trusted Family-Based Immigration Lawyer in Lower Manhattan
We Want to Help Your Loved Ones Immigrate to the US Through the Family-Based Immigration Process
Our NYC family-based immigration lawyer at The Law Office of Yifei He, PLLC can explain the procedures and requirements involved with different forms of family-based immigration. In most cases, our clients are US citizens or permanent residents who wish to have a relative obtain entry or permanent residence in the US — parents, spouses, fiancés or fiancées, sons or daughters, brother or sister, etc.
What Are Family Based Visas?
Family-Based immigrant visas are for those who are related to a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident. They must be an immediate relative (spouse or parent) or minor (under 21) child of a U.S. citizen.
The types of visas for immediate relatives include:
- K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa
- K-3 Visa
- V Visa
Other family members or family-sponsored preferences include:
- First Preference (F-1) – unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
- Second Preference (F-2) – spouses and children, and unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents
- Third Preference (F-3) – married sons and daughters of citizens
- Fourth Preference (F-4) – brothers and sisters of adult citizens
If you wish to bring someone you love to the US, we can help you understand what to expect during the family-based immigration process and what you need to do to prepare. Our team represents families and individuals nationwide and around the world, and we would be happy to do the same for you. As an immigrant himself, Attorney Yifei He has personal experience with the US immigration process, and he uses this experience to the benefit of the clients we represent in family-based immigration cases.
Call 917-338-7678 or contact us online for a consultation to learn about your options for bringing a loved one to the US from another country. Speak with a New York family-based immigration lawyer today!
Legal Services for Family-Based Immigration in Lower Manhattan
Much of the work that we do for our family-based immigration clients involves achieving entry, maintenance of status, adjustment of status, change of status, and finding the fastest and most effective ways to meet immediate or ongoing immigration objectives. Sometimes the fastest way will require additional work later on, as when a non-citizen spouse enters the United States on a nonimmigrant K-3 visa. Ultimately, it’s up to you and your loved one(s) as to how you would like to proceed, but we will always arm you with all the information you need to know regarding the options available to you, so you can make your decision based on sound advice and clear judgment.
We are committed to helping US citizens and permanent residents bring family members to this country. Examples of the kinds of family immigration situations we typically handle include:
Adjustment of status
If your family member is already in the U.S., they may be able to apply for a green card without leaving the country. This process, called adjustment of status, allows them to transition from a temporary visa to permanent residence. We’ll help ensure your application is accurate, timely, and supported by strong evidence.
Removal defense
Facing deportation? Whether your loved one overstayed a visa, was denied an immigration benefit, or is being targeted for removal, we provide aggressive removal defense strategies to keep families together and protect future immigration eligibility.
Family-Based Waivers of Inadmissibility
If a family member has a past immigration violation, unlawful entry, or criminal record, they may be considered inadmissible. We help families apply for waivers that excuse certain grounds of inadmissibility and allow loved ones to continue their immigration journey legally.
Fiancé or Fiancée Visas (K-1)
Planning to marry a U.S. citizen? We assist with K-1 visa petitions, helping foreign fiancés or fiancées enter the U.S. to marry within 90 days. We make sure all paperwork is submitted correctly and can assist after marriage with green card applications.
Naturalization and citizenship
When you're ready to take the final step toward becoming a U.S. citizen, we guide you through the naturalization process, from application to interview. We also assist with derivative citizenship claims and resolving any issues that arise with past green card history.
Nonimmigrant K-3 Visas
The K-3 visa allows a foreign spouse of a U.S. citizen to come to the U.S. while their green card petition is being processed. This can help reduce separation time. We help file all necessary forms and explain how the K-3 interacts with the immigrant visa process.
Permanent Residence (Green Card) for Immediate Relatives
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens—such as spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents—can apply for green cards without being subject to yearly caps. We help families gather documentation, file petitions, and complete interviews for faster reunification.
Consular processing
If your family member is abroad, they may need to complete their visa process through a U.S. consulate or embassy. We walk families through consular processing, help prepare for the interview, and work to resolve delays or complications with the National Visa Center.
Entry and Permanent Residence for Non-Citizen Spouses
Sponsoring your spouse? Whether your spouse is inside the U.S. or abroad, we handle the entire green card process and guide you through key decisions like adjustment of status vs. consular processing. We also address complications such as prior visa denials or time out of status.
Preference Categories for Family-Based Immigration Visas
Not every family member qualifies as an immediate relative. We help families understand the preference category system, including visa wait times, priority dates, and how to properly sponsor siblings, adult children, or married children through the appropriate family preference category.
Each of these situations requires a different approach and course of legal action, which is why we take the time to explain each process carefully so you know exactly what to expect moving forward: length of time, priority dates, evidence and documentation requirements, visa bulletins, interview process, and the affidavits of support that must be completed for the non-citizen relative.
You can rely on our NYC family-based immigration lawyer to provide straightforward and timely answers to your questions while giving you the information you need to make informed choices about your family. We know that the decisions and moves you make during this process are critical to keeping your family intact, and we will do everything in our power to protect and preserve your family during this time.
Call Us for a FREE Consultation 917-338-7678
If you wish to bring a family member to the United States to live temporarily or permanently, The Law Office of Yifei He, PLLC can offer the advice and counsel you need. We offer legal services in English and Mandarin, and we would be happy to look into options for other languages if that’s something you need.
To schedule a consultation at our New York City office, give us a call or complete an online contact form here. We can schedule a time to meet that works around your schedule.
FAQs: Family Immigration in NYC
It depends on the relationship and whether your relative is an immediate family member or falls under a preference category. Immediate relatives often have faster processing, while preference categories may take months or years depending on the backlog.
Yes. Green card holders can sponsor spouses and unmarried children. However, the process may take longer than it would for U.S. citizens.
They may still have options, such as adjustment of status with a waiver or consular processing with a waiver of inadmissibility. We can evaluate the case and determine the best path forward.
It depends. Some applicants can adjust status from within the U.S., while others must complete the process through a U.S. consulate abroad. We’ll help you determine the safest and most effective approach.
Yes, in many cases. We help clients evaluate the reasons for denial and take steps to correct issues, gather stronger evidence, and resubmit or appeal where appropriate.