Good news for family of US green card holders!

Immigrants to the US are either sponsored through their employers or through their families. As such the number of immigrants who can legally stay in the country and enjoy work rights amongst other benefits, are limited by the immigration rules of the government. Sponsorship for immigrants are usually done by family members who are U.S. citizens or those who are enjoy permanent residence-ship in the U.S.

As such the new Visa bulletin issued for August 2013 has great news for spouses and children of permanent residents. From August 1, the family-based 2A category visa will be current for all countries. This practically means that if you are a green card holder, your spouse and children who are lawfully present with you in the U.S. can start filing for their I-485 packets from August. You don’t have to worry if the category retrogresses later because even if it does, your family will be able to remain in the U.S. with you and will not be sent away to your native country. In addition to this on application, they will receive their work and travel permits within 90 days. In addition to this your spouse and children will be able to get a driver’s license and be able to attend school respectively.

In case like many others, you have been waiting to naturalize your family before you sponsored them for green cards, you no longer have to wait. You can actually start filing for I-130s and I-485s in August. Also in case of those who have already filed their I-130 and have a pending petition, you can start filing your I-485s, this August.

This is also a great opportunity for couples who are planning to get married and shift their spouse to the US legally. You could get married now and have your paper work ready by the time it is appropriate to be able to file for sponsorship for your spouse in August so that there is no delay on your part, before your spouse is approved for a green card.
If you were waiting to naturalize before you sponsored them for green cards, or before you got married, wait no longer. Sponsor them in August, or marry your boyfriend or girlfriend in July, and get the paperwork ready to file in August.

This is indeed great news for all families who have been waiting to file for their green cards and the Supreme Court’s recent decision which strikes down section 3 of DOMA, makes this applicable to all families including same-sex couples too.

This however does not apply to those whose spouse is outside the US or even those whose spouse has entered the US illegally. For more avenues on how you can sponsor your spouse and children, please feel free to contact the Shah Peerally law firm, which has vast experience in the area of immigration law. Our lawyers will be able to help you out with any related problems.
For any further information check the website for constant details and updates.