Can I apply for a green card or residency visa for my wife?
I am 27 years old and married a woman on June 12, 2011. My wife has an 8 month old baby girl with a former boyfriend. Can I apply for a green card or a residency visa for both of them?
Answered By: Perez Immigration Law Firm
The answer is yes. Even though you are not the biological father of the child, you can still sponsor her as your step-child.
Answer Applies to: Tennessee
Replied: 10/27/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: Tennessee
Replied: 10/27/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Law Office of Eric Fisher
If you are a US citizen, you can file an I-130 visa petition for your wife. Whether she can apply for an immigrant visa or adjustment to lawful residency depends on her background.
Answer Applies to: Colorado
Replied: 10/25/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: Colorado
Replied: 10/25/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Law Offices of Grinberg and Segal
The answer depends upon your immigration status and how she entered the United States. Assuming she entered the United States with a valid non-immigrant visa and you are a citizen, you can petition for both her and her child and they may be eligible to become resident (this depends upon the visa used). It would also depend upon other factors such as prior immigration history, criminal record, etc. You and your wife are strongly encouraged to meet with an immigration attorney to discuss the matter further.
Answer Applies to: New York
Replied: 10/25/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: New York
Replied: 10/25/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Verdin Law Firm, LLC
Generally, if she entered legally into the U.S., then yes, you can file for her adjustment of status without her leaving. Before you file any documents, please consult with an experienced immigration lawyer.
Answer Applies to: Texas
Replied: 10/24/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: Texas
Replied: 10/24/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Joseph Law Firm
The answer depends on your status and whether your wife entered illegally or legally. If you are a citizen and your wife entered legally, you can petition for her from within the U.S. through a process called adjustment of status. If she entered illegally, then you can still petition for her, but she will have to leave the country in order to complete the process, and she may be penalized for her unlawful presence in the United States. There is a ten year bar to anyone who has previously been in the U.S. for more than one year without lawful status. She will need to seek a waiver of this ten year bar when she goes to the consulate for her interview and to achieve the waiver she will have to demonstrate that it will be an extreme hardship on her U.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or parent.
Answer Applies to: Colorado
Replied: 10/24/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: Colorado
Replied: 10/24/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Christian Schmidt, Attorney at Law
You can petition for your wife and her child at any time if you are a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident. However, they will only be eligible to apply for resident status from within the U.S. if they entered the country lawfully. More information is needed to give a detailed answer. You should consult with an experienced immigration attorney for a complete assessment of the matter.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 10/24/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 10/24/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Baughman & Wang
If you are US citizen; if your wife entered the US legally or if she is outside of the US and is not subject to the 3 or 10 year bar. Then you can petition for her and her child. if you are permanent resident, you can also petition them but it will take about 3 years.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 10/24/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 10/24/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
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