Our immigration practice at Serrano & Serrano
focuses on helping United States citizens and legal residents
unite their families by obtaining legal residency (green cards)
for their spouses, children and parents.
We also assist legal residents
become United States citizens through the naturalization
application process.
Residency (Green Cards)
A citizen of the United
States can file an immigration residency petition for the
following alien relatives:
A husband or wife.
A biological child of any age, whether single or
married.
An adopted child, if the child was adopted before
turning 16 and has lived with the citizen for at least 2
years.
A parent (if the U.S. citizen is over 21).
A brother or sister (if the U.S. citizen is over
21).
A step-child (a child of their spouse from another
relationship) if the citizen married the spouse before the
child turned 18.
A legal resident of the
United States can file an immigration residency petition for the
following alien relatives:
A husband or wife.
An unmarried son or daughter of any age.
After the immigration petition is
approved, the alien relative must wait until an immigrant visa
number is available. How quickly the number becomes
available depends on whether the immigration petition was filed
by a U.S. citizen or a U.S. legal resident and on the
relationship between the petitioner and the alien. Alien
relatives are classified according to the following preference
system.
Visa Number Available Immediately:
Spouses of U.S. citizens.
Unmarried children under age 21 of U.S.
citizens.
Parents of U.S. citizens.
First Preference:
Unmarried sons and daughters over age 21 of
U.S. citizens.
Second Preference:
Spouses of lawful permanent residents.
Unmarried children under
age 21 of the spouses of lawful permanent residents.
Unmarried sons and daughters of lawful
permanent residents.
Third Preference:
Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
Fourth Preference:
Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens.
How long people in each immigration
preference must wait depends on their country.
People from countries where large numbers are attempting to
immigrate to the United States — such as China, India, Mexico, and the
Philippines — will wait much longer than people from other
countries. Information regarding visa availability can be
found at the U.S. State Department website.
Naturalization
(Citizenship)
We encourage legal permanent residents to become
United States citizens, particularly if they are citizens of
countries that allow them to have dual citizenship.
Naturalized citizens have all the same rights as native born
citizens (except for the right to serve as President).
Citizens have the following
important rights and advantages that permanent legal residents
(persons with green cards) do not have:
The right to vote.
The right to receive many government benefits,
including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and certain
student loans and grants.
The ability to apply for many government jobs.
The right to file immigrant petitions for their
married children and for their parents, brothers and
sisters.
The right to have immigrant visas immediately
available for their spouses, unmarried children under 21 and
parents.
The ability to avoid being deported if convicted of
a crime.
If you are a legal permanent
resident and want to become a naturalized United States citizen,
you must meet the following requirements:
If married to a U.S. citizen, you must have lived
continuously in the United States for the past 3
years. (Absences of 6 months or more may interrupt
residency.)
If not married to a U.S. citizen, you must have
lived continuously in the U.S. for the
past 5 years. (Absences of 6 months or more may
interrupt residency.)
You must have lived in the state where you submit
the application for at least 3 months.
You must not have broken any immigration laws.
You can show evidence of good moral character for
at least the past 5 years.
You can speak, understand, read, and write simple
English. This requirement does not apply if you are
over age 55 and have been a permanent resident for more than
15 years or if you are over age 50 and have been a permanent
resident for more than 20 years.
You can pass a basic test about U.S. history and
government. (An exception may apply if you are over
age 65).
You are willing to take an oath of allegiance to
the United States.
When You Need an Immigration Lawyer,
Rely on Us for Skill, Determination
and Experience.
