Family reunification in USA
We help parents, children, brothers, and sisters of US citizens and Green Card holders obtain a visa faster and easier
Support until the result
We solve arising issues
We reduce the risk of refusal
Need a consultation on visa matters? Discuss them with an immigration lawyer
Leave a request, and we will contact you shortly
Which relatives can apply for a visa to the USA
IR5 Visa
Parent of a US citizen who is an adult
F2A Visa
Unmarried children (under 21 years old) of Green Card holders
F11 Visa
Unmarried adult children of US citizens
F2B Visa
Unmarried adult children under 21 of Green Card holders
F3 Visa
Married adult children of US citizens
F4 Visa
Brother or sister of an adult US citizen
How to apply for a family reunification visa
US citizens and Green Card holders aged 21 or older can bring relatives to the USA. The process consists of 4 conditional stages.
01
Fill out and submit I-130 petition to USCIS
You complete the petition and submit it to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
If everything is done correctly and there are no reasons for rejection, your documents are forwarded to the National Visa Center.
If everything is done correctly and there are no reasons for rejection, your documents are forwarded to the National Visa Center.
02
Obtain approval from the National Visa Center
After USCIS, the National Visa Center reviews the petition and documents. This entity may request additional information.
If there are no issues with your documents and your petition is approved, you can proceed with visa processing.
If there are no issues with your documents and your petition is approved, you can proceed with visa processing.
03
Fill out DS-260 form and submit visa documents
You fill out the DS-260 form and submit the required documents to the US embassy. Pay the official fees. Undergo a medical examination
After the documents are reviewed, you will be invited for an interview with a visa officer.
04
Undergo an interview with the visa officer and receive a visa
At the appointed time, you will meet with a visa officer at the US embassy. The officer will review your documents again and ask follow-up questions.
After the interview, you will be informed of the decision: whether you are granted a visa or denied.
Why you may be denied
Obtaining an immigration visa can take several years. It is frustrating if long waiting times end in a refusal due to incorrect actions.
Mistakes or inaccuracies in the petition and form
Not submitting all documents or submitting poor-quality scanned copies
Failure to consider personal factors that could lead to a refusal
We help you apply for a visa correctly and reduce the risk of refusal by several times
The ReLocate team specializes in immigration law, passport-visa, and border regimes. For over 15 years, we have been assisting with complex visa applications and providing full support to clients.
We analyze your case and create an action plan
- objectively assess your chances for a visa;
- identify risks in advance and prepare a plan to eliminate them;
- create an individual document package for each stage.
Result: you will know exactly what to do to get your visa approved in your case. Every action is already planned from the start.
We help fill out and prepare documents
- assist in filling out petitions, forms, and other necessary documents without errors;
- provide examples of recommendation letters;
- help draft affidavits, explanatory letters, sponsorship forms;
- complete the application;
- organize high-quality translation of documents.
Result: you submit documents according to all current requirements, speeding up the review of your case.
We take care of organizational matters
- consult on paying fees and official payments;
- schedule your document submission at the embassy;
- assist with medical examination appointments;
- register the passport for return delivery.
Result: you save time and don’t miss any important details. We’ll take care of everything.
We provide full support until a decision is made on your visa
- keep in touch with USCIS, the National Visa Center, the U.S. Embassy;
- prepare you for the interview with the visa officer;
- track progress at every stage.
Result: you will know exactly how things are going with your case, and we will help quickly resolve any issues that arise.
As a result, you will:
Increase your chances for a visa
All your documents will comply with U.S. visa regulations.
Reduce your waiting time
There will be no mistakes in your documents and actions that could delay the process.
Save time on organization
We take control of the process, and notify you at every stage.
Individual chat with lawyers
We will create an individual chat in a messenger convenient for you. A team of lawyers will be with you in the chat, who will support the entire process in real time:
provide you with recommendations
reply to questions
prepare documents
At certain stages of support, you will have personal online consultations with a leading specialist.
Want to discuss cooperation or ask a question?
Our lawyers are in touch.
Leave a request and get a consultation.
Why it is better to go this way with us
We are not a travel agency, not bloggers and not “amateurs” who have applied for 10+ visas and consider themselves professionals.
We are lawyers who have lived in the immigration sphere for 15 years and know everything about it.
Philipp Orlov
ReLocate owner, immigration lawyer.
What clients say about our work
Cost of family reunification visa processing
The exact cost depends on the complexity of your case.
from 100 usd
Consultation and visa chance evaluation
If we continue working, this amount will be included in the service cost.
from 1250 usd
Preparation and submission of I130 petitions
from 500 usd
Preparation and submission of visa documents
from 1250 usd
Preparation and submission of documents for status change and work permit.
from 250 usd
Assistance in completing I-864 form (if necessary).
Official fees are paid separately
| Fee for petition I129F/I130 processing by USCIS | 675 USD |
| Sponsor fee (for immigration visas only) | 120 USD |
| Consular fee per person (for immigration visas only) | 325 USD |
| Medical examination (exact cost depends on your age and the country where the examination takes place) | from 200 USD |
| Fee for processing immigration document package and issuing GreenCard | 235 USD |
| Fee for processing I-485 status change form | 1440 USD |
| Fee for biometric data submission | 85 USD |
| Fee for processing I-765 work permit form | 520 USD |
* Fees are stated per applicant. As of 01.2025. Subject to change.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I have a Green Card, which relatives can I bring to the USA?
Green Card holders can sponsor immigration visas for their unmarried children under 21 and their civil partner or spouse. To reunite with parents or siblings, you must be a U.S. citizen.
What benefits do immigration visas for relatives offer?
All family reunification visas grant relatives a status of legal permanent residents in the U.S. They can live, work, freely cross borders, run businesses, and buy real estate in the U.S.
How long does it usually take to process documents?
Processing times depend on factors like the type of relationship, applicant’s status (citizen or Green Card holder), visa quotas for the category, and the service center processing the case. For instance, a U.S. citizen’s petition to reunite with a parent can take 6-12 months, while for siblings it can take 13-15 years.
If the relative is already in the U.S., what is the best way to apply for an immigration visa?
In this case, you should file for a status adjustment with form I-485. It’s important that your relatives are in the U.S. legally. Otherwise, their visa application will be rejected, and they may face legal consequences. Not all family reunification categories allow applicants to wait for the decision within the U.S., so maintaining legal status is crucial.
Can I enter the U.S. on a tourist visa and then apply for a family reunification visa?
Remember, you obtained a tourist visa with a non-immigrant purpose. If you immediately apply for a family reunification visa after entering the U.S. and attempt to stay, immigration may consider this as misrepresentation, which could result in denial and a ban from entering the U.S. However, if your plans change during your stay, it is better to consult a lawyer.
Can only biological parents reunite with a U.S. citizen?
No, adoptive parents, stepfathers, and stepmothers can also reunite. In the case of adoptive parents, it’s necessary to provide documents showing the U.S. citizen was adopted before the age of 16. Step-parents are eligible if they married the U.S. citizen’s parent before the child turned 18.
I am half-sister to my sibling (same mother). Can I initiate her visa to the U.S.?
Yes, it doesn’t matter if you share only one parent. You are considered relatives under the visa rules.
What should I do if my petition is rejected?
If your petition is rejected, you will receive a notification outlining the reasons. Common rejection reasons include insufficient proof of relationship, failure to meet financial requirements, errors in documents, or providing false information. You can appeal or resubmit the petition after addressing the identified issues.
Can my relative work in the U.S. while waiting for a Green Card?
If your relative is in the U.S. and applies for a status adjustment, they can apply for work authorization while their case is pending. However, if they are outside the U.S., they must wait for the immigration visa to be approved and enter the U.S.
What is the priority date and how does it affect the process?
The priority date is the date when USCIS receives your I-130 petition. It determines your place in the visa queue. For categories with quotas, such as U.S. citizens’ siblings, the priority date is important in determining the wait time.
Can children born after filing the petition be included in the process?
Yes, children born after the petition is filed can be added to the case. You must notify USCIS and provide the necessary documents such as the child’s birth certificate and passport.
What should I do if I can’t meet the financial requirements of form I-864?
If you cannot meet the financial requirements, you can bring in a joint sponsor who agrees to provide financial support and sign form I-864.