Family Immigration Lawyer in Boston, Massachusetts

Working with a Boston immigration attorney means more than just filling out forms. They’ll help you understand your options, avoid common pitfalls, and address any challenge on your way, whether it’s your first petition or you’re facing requests for additional evidence to support your case.

Absolutely. If you’re based in Boston and hold U.S. citizenship or a Green Card, you’re eligible to petition for a spouse or child. Here’s how the process typically unfolds: you file a petition with USCIS, then your spouse or child applies for adjustment of status or goes through consular processing depending on their location and category.

Processing times vary based on the type of visa, your relative’s relationship to you, whether the beneficiary is in or outside the United States at the time the petition is filed, and government backlogs.

To qualify for a marriage-based visa, you must prove that your marriage is legitimate, file Form I-130, provide evidence of a real relationship, attend an interview, and pass background checks. If the marriage is less than two years old, the beneficiary will initially get a conditional Green Card.

Consult with a family immigration attorney in Boston before you start the immigration process. They’ll help you complete and submit required paperwork, collect the right supporting documents, and represent you if there are issues with USCIS.

Not necessarily. Green Card holders can sponsor their spouse and unmarried children but cannot sponsor parents, married children, or siblings. U.S. citizens can petition for a wider range of family members. If you’re unsure of your eligibility, our Boston attorneys can help.

If your family member entered the U.S. legally and meets the eligibility requirements, they may be able to apply for adjustment of status without leaving the country. Let us take a closer look at your family member’s case to determine the best approach based on their entry history and your status.

To prove your marriage is bona fide, meaning it was entered into in good faith, you can use various documents: joint bank accounts, lease agreements, shared bills, photos, and social media history.

Yes, you can sponsor a family member if you don’t live full-time in Boston. However, you must submit evidence of maintained U.S. residency and of your intention to support them financially. If you’re living abroad temporarily, a Boston family immigration attorney can advise you on how to meet sponsorship requirements.

There’s no limit on the number of relatives you can sponsor. Make sure that each petition you are filing meets eligibility rules and financial requirements. Note that visa wait times vary by category. Our team can help you manage multiple petitions.

If your petition is denied and you know the reasons for the denial, you can file a motion to reopen or appeal or correct issues and apply again. Talk to our immigration team: they’ll review the decision and advise you on your next steps.

Yes, once you obtain U.S. citizenship, you get the right to sponsor additional family members: parents, married children, and siblings. If you’ve recently naturalized in Boston, a family immigration lawyer can help update or refile any previous petitions under your new status.

Adjustment of status is used when your relative is already in the U.S. and wants to apply for a Green Card without going back to their home country. Consular processing happens when your family member is outside the U.S. and wants to join you in the United States. In this case, they must attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or Consulate abroad. A Boston attorney can advise which option applies to your case.

Yes, to sponsor a relative for family immigration cases, you must submit Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, to show you can financially support the immigrant. This ensures the immigrant won’t become a public charge. If you’re unsure whether you meet the income threshold in Massachusetts, our Boston attorneys can help evaluate your case.

If a family member has a criminal history, they may still be eligible for immigration, but it can complicate the case. Depending on the charges and when the crime occurred, you can file a waiver. Consult with a Boston family immigration lawyer to assess risk and determine your options.

If your relative is applying from within the U.S., they may be eligible to apply for a work permit (Form I-765) while their Green Card application is pending. Call a Boston family immigration lawyer so they can help with the timing and paperwork so your family member can legally work during the process.