Dallas Family & Fiancé Visa Lawyers
For most families, the path to living in the United States together runs through a family petition or a fiancé visa, and then a green card. The steps are specific and the paperwork is unforgiving: the wrong form, a weak affidavit of support, or a missing document can cost you months or trigger a denial. At Escoto Law, we handle family and fiancé visas and the permanent residence that follows, start to finish, in English and Spanish. Hablamos Español.
Family-based petitions
U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can petition for certain family members to immigrate. Who you can petition, and how long it takes, depends on your status and the relationship:
- Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21, have visas available without a waiting line.
- Family preference categories, such as adult children and siblings of citizens, and spouses and children of permanent residents, are subject to annual limits and can involve a wait.
We prepare the I-130 petition and the supporting evidence to prove a genuine relationship, and we handle the affidavit of support that the government requires from the sponsor.
Fiancé(e) visas (K-1)
If you are a U.S. citizen engaged to someone abroad, the K-1 fiancé(e) visa allows your fiancé to enter the United States so you can marry within 90 days. After the marriage, your spouse can apply for permanent residence. We guide couples through the petition, the consular stage, and the green card application that follows.
Marriage-based cases, including same-sex marriage
We have handled many marriage-based cases, and same-sex couples are entitled to the same benefits under U.S. immigration law as any other couple. Whatever your family looks like, the process is the same and we are ready to help.
Two paths to the green card
Once a petition is approved, there are two ways to reach permanent residence, and the right one depends on where you are and your immigration history:
- Adjustment of status is completed inside the United States, without leaving. In many of our cases, approvals come through efficiently, and where an interview is scheduled, an attorney prepares you and goes with you.
- Consular processing is completed at a U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country. If a ground of inadmissibility applies, a waiver may be needed to finish the process, and we prepare those waiver packets as well.
We help you choose the right path from the start, because switching later costs time you may not have.
Removing conditions on residence
If your marriage was less than two years old when you became a resident, you received a two-year conditional green card. Before it expires, you must file to remove the conditions and receive the ten-year card. We handle that filing for you and your children, so your status stays secure.
Why work with Escoto Law
Our firm brings a rare perspective to immigration. Before founding the firm, our managing attorney, Oscar Escoto, served as an attorney advisor to the immigration judges at the Dallas and Houston Immigration Courts, so we understand how these cases are examined and decided. Family and fiancé visas are part of our full immigration practice, which runs through to citizenship and includes deportation defense if a case ever goes that way.
Serving Dallas and clients nationwide
We are based in Dallas, serve the Dallas-Fort Worth area and all of Texas, and take cases nationwide, with much of the process handled remotely. Call to schedule your consultation today. Hablamos Español.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which family members can I petition for?
U.S. citizens can petition for spouses, parents, children, and siblings; permanent residents can petition for spouses and unmarried children. Some categories have no waiting line, others do. We will tell you exactly which category your relative falls into and what the wait looks like.
What is the difference between a fiancé visa and marrying abroad?
With a K-1 fiancé visa, your fiancé enters the U.S. and you marry here within 90 days, then apply for the green card. If you marry abroad first, your spouse is generally processed as the spouse of a citizen instead. Which is better depends on your situation, and we will walk you through both.
Should I do adjustment of status or consular processing?
It depends on where the immigrating family member is and their immigration history. Adjustment is done inside the U.S.; consular processing is done at a consulate abroad and sometimes requires a waiver. We help you choose the path that fits your case.
I have a two-year green card. What do I need to do?
You need to file to remove the conditions before it expires to get your ten-year card. Do not let it lapse. We handle this filing for you and any children who received a conditional card.
What if there is a problem in my immigration history?
Some issues create a ground of inadmissibility that can be addressed with a waiver, and others need a different strategy. Bring your full history to your consultation and we will tell you honestly what your options are.
Do you offer services in Spanish?
Yes. We serve clients fully in English and Spanish. Hablamos Español.