NON-IMMIGRANT VISA OPTIONS TO BRING YOUR FAMILY TO THE UNITED STATES

Introduction

There are various types of visas that can help your family move to the United States. There are visas for those already in the US and for those visiting. In case you are already here in the US, you may want to apply for an immigrant visa or a green card. This will give you legal residence and give you the right to work in the US. However, a green card normally takes time to get approved.

If you are in the US but would like for your family to join you, then non-immigrant visas are another avenue you may want to consider. These are a type of visa that allows your family to visit the US on a temporary basis. If your plans are for your family to reside here permanently, then you can consider starting with a non-immigrant visa. An immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX can be of great help.

Exploring a non-immigrant family visa will enable your family to come to the US and then look into obtaining their green card afterward. These usually have shorter wait times, and there is no cap on the number granted each year.

You are supposed to request an extension before the period expires. In case you have children, you are required to include them in your request to renew your visa. In case you get married or get divorced, then you are required to leave the US within 30 days. However, you can still apply for another type of visa, such as a work visa, since you now meet the requirements. These intricacies can be best understood by interacting with an immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX.

Knowing the rules about these visas is quite important because they are pretty strict. This guide will give you useful information needed to bring your family over to the US faster.

Family visas in the US

There are a bunch of ways to get a family visa in the US, and they can be split into two main groups: immigrant visas and non-immigrant visas. Immigrant visas let you become a permanent resident of the US, also known as a green card. Non-immigrant visas, on the other hand, let you visit the US temporarily to be with your family. These are often called derivative visas in US immigration law. An immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX can determine the one that best suits your situation.

A derivative visa is when you are applying to come to the US because you have a close family member already here, like a spouse, partner, or parent. You can apply for this visa at the same time as your spouse or parent, or you can apply later. Get in contact with an immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX, to learn how to proceed.

Depending on your situation, like what you plan to do in the US and how long you want to stay, you might also qualify for an individual visa (like an overseas visitor visa). Also, if you are from one of the eligible countries, you could get an ESTA visa waiver, which lets you visit the US for up to 90 days.

Let’s look at one of these non-immigrant family US visas.

• The F-2 visa

This visa is for spouses and kids under 21 years of age with F-1 visas. F-1 visas are for those studying at a US university, which could be a college, high school, seminary, conservatory, or another school, or a language training program. With the F-2 visa, you can’t work or study full-time.

The F-2 visa is pretty popular for non-immigrant family visas. It lets the person with the F-1 visa’s spouse or unmarried child live with them in the US as a dependent until they finish their studies. The dependent can stay in the US, study part-time, and travel around the US, as long as the main applicant is still in F-1 status.

The USCIS doesn’t limit how many F-2 visas can be given out each year. To get an F-2 visa, you need to show you can afford it and meet the other requirements. If you do, you will be considered for the visa. Want to know if you qualify for this visa? Get in touch with an immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX.

• The M-2 visa

These visas are for the spouse and any unmarried kids under 21 of someone with an M-1 visa. The person with the M-1 visa needs to be in a job-related program or a recognized school, except for language classes. You can’t work or go to college with this visa, but the kids can go to school. Learn more about this visa by talking with an immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX.

• The J-2 visa

These visas are for the spouse and unmarried kids under 21 of someone with a J-1 visa. People with J-1 visas are living and working in the US for a bit, like an interns or exchange students. Sometimes, you can work and study in the US while you have this visa. If this looks like a good option for you, reach out to an immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX.

• The K-1 visa

These visas are for someone from another country who is getting married to a US citizen and wants to move to the US to be married within 90 days. If they don’t get married within 90 days, they have to leave the US within 30 days. Check out our earlier post on K-1 visas or contact our immigration lawyers in Arlington, TX, for more details on the K-1 visas.

• The K-2 visa

These visas are for the unmarried kids under 21 of someone with a K-1 visa. The kids can go to school or work while they are in the US with this visa.

• The K-3 visa

This visa is for the spouse of someone who is married outside the US and wants to move to the US to be with their spouse for 2 years. This visa is for spouses who don’t have a green card. To get this visa, the spouse has to be an American citizen. Get through the tricky process of this visa with the help of an immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX.

• The K-4 visa

These visas are for the unmarried kids under 21 of someone with a K-3 visa. You can go to school in the US and get a work permit with this visa.

• The H-4 visa

The H-4 visa is for family members of people with H visas. It can be given to family members of people with H-1B, H-1B1, H-2A, H-2B, and H-3 visas.

Spouses and unmarried kids under 21 can get the H-4 visa. However, parents of people with H visas can’t get the H-4 visa but can visit the US with other kinds of visas. With an H-4 visa, you can move to the US and live with the person you are visiting.

The good things about this visa include:

• Living in the US;
• Going to school;
• Opening a bank account;
• Working anywhere with a work permit;
• Working both full-time and part-time;
• Getting a social security number (SSN) and tax ID;
• Starting your own business;
• Getting a driver’s license.

There is no limit on how many people can apply for an H-4 visa each year, and there is no deadline for applying. You can enjoy these benefits and more by speaking with an immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX.

• The P-4 visa

This visa lets the spouse and kids of someone with a P visa come to the US temporarily to live with the main visa holder. Spouses and kids can go to school in the US, whether it is part-time or full-time, without needing an F-1 student visa. But, they can’t work in the US with a P-4 visa, unless they are specifically allowed to by USCIS.

The P-4 visa is just for immediate family and doesn’t cover the main visa holder’s parents, in-laws, or adult kids over 21. Check your eligibility for this visa with an immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX before taking any step.

• The L-2 visa

These visas let your spouse and kids come to the US if you are already here on an L-1 visa. The foreign spouse must be legally married to the person coming to the US on an L-1 visa, and the kids have to be single and under 21. Other family members like parents, siblings, or grandparents can’t get in. An immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX can find other visa options for them.

The L-1 visa is for when someone from another country is temporarily sent to work for a company in the US. Once the USCIS says it is good to go, the person can keep working for the company in the US. After you get the L-1 visa, you can also apply for an L-2 visa for your spouse to work in the US. You can do this as soon as your spouse gets here.

Get help!

If you want to bring your family to the US, there are lots of ways to do it. But it is really hard to get the right visa. That is why it is super important to get an immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX to help out.

At Gehi and Associates, we have a bunch of experienced immigration lawyers in Arlington, TX who can help with any visa you need. We have a solid history of getting things done right, so you can count on us to handle your visa and make it a smooth ride. Contact us today to see how we can help you out!