F2A Petition for Spouses and Minor Children Available for Immediate Processing in August 2013
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) July 18, 2013 -- The Shapiro Law Group is urging legal residents who want to sponsor a spouse and/or minor children who are legally within the United States to apply for legal residency in August 2013 so that their family members can legally remain within the United States. Ordinarily the process of applying for an F2A immigration visa for family members takes more than 2 years because of the high number of applicants. During that time the family members who are sponsored are not allowed to remain the United States.
For the first time in a number of years, however, green card holders can file visa applications under the F2A program for their spouses and minor children who are legally within the United States without a waiting time during the month of August.
The F2A visa is a “family second preference” visa specifically allocated to spouses and minor children of legal permanent residents. Until recently, there was a backlog of applications in this category of up to 699 days (nearly two years) to move into priority status. But the government has indicated that as of August, the F2A category will be “current” so applications can be processed immediately. Further, the spouse and minor children who are sponsored for green card status while they are legally within the United States will be permitted to remain in the United States while their immediate relative and permanent residence petitions are being processed.
“The removal of the waiting line for priority status presents an exceptional opportunity for legal residents to sponsor spouses and family members who are within the United States,” says Chicago area immigration lawyer Ronald Shapiro. “The immediate eligibility of F2A status during August will allow families to be reunited and remain intact because spouses and minor children will be permitted to stay in the U.S. until they receive their green cards.”
Even if a legal resident has already filed an F-2A petition, spouses and minor children who are under a petition by a green card holder, and who are legally within the United States are immediately eligible for adjustment of status beginning next month, regardless of priority date.
The removal of the lengthy processing time for F2A applications is a rare opportunity for international families – and one that will not last forever. Accordingly, legal residents who want to sponsor legal residency for their spouses and/or minor children are urged to contact The Shapiro Law Group today to begin the application process. It is impossible to predict when the window of opportunity will close and the processing delays will begin to build.
The Chicago immigration lawyers at The Shapiro Law Group stand ready to help legal residents who are interested in bringing their spouse and/or minor children into the United States under the F2A visa program file a petition to sponsor an alien relative (known as an I-130 petition) and to help you with all of your immigration needs.
Ronald Shapiro, The Shapiro Law Group, http://www.ronaldshapiro.com, +1 (847) 564-0712, [email protected]
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