Navigating the complexities of immigration law can be overwhelming. At BCA Law Firm, our dedicated, experienced team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Don’t face this journey alone – contact us today for a consultation and let us help you work toward your immigration goals.
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Family Immigration Lawyer in Atlanta & Norcross, Georgia
Green cards for spouses, parents, children and siblings, fiancé visas, waivers and complicated family cases, for families across metro Atlanta, Tennessee and nationwide.
Bringing your family together in the United States usually starts with a petition from a U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative. BCA Law Firm guides families through every step: the I-130 petition, adjustment of status or consular processing, the interview, and removing conditions on a marriage-based green card. We also help U.S. citizens bring a fiancé(e) on a K-1 fiancé visa. We also handle the cases that need extra care, such as past overstays, prior denials, waivers and petitions after a divorce or death of the petitioner.
Our founding attorney, Bhavya Chaudhary, is an award-winning immigration attorney, recognized as a 2020 Attorney for Justice by the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission for her pro bono service. The firm also handles family law matters.
Call 678-292-6111 or book a consultation online.
Which Family Members Can You Sponsor?
| If you are a… | You can sponsor | Annual limit and wait? |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. citizen | Spouse, unmarried children under 21, and parents (if you are 21 or older) | No limit: immediate relatives |
| U.S. citizen | Unmarried sons and daughters 21 or older (F1), married sons and daughters (F3), brothers and sisters if you are 21 or older (F4) | Yes, often years |
| Permanent resident | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 (F2A), unmarried sons and daughters 21 or older (F2B) | Yes |
Permanent residents cannot sponsor parents, married children or siblings. Learn more about I-130 processing times and categories.
Marriage-Based Green Cards
If you are married to a U.S. citizen and are in the U.S. after a lawful entry, you can usually file the I-130 petition and the I-485 green card application together and apply for a work permit while you wait. Most marriage cases include an interview where an officer reviews evidence that the marriage is genuine.
If you have been married for less than two years when the green card is approved, you receive a two-year conditional green card and must file Form I-751 to remove the conditions. Otherwise you receive a 10-year card; see what IR6 and CR6 mean.
In May 2026, USCIS issued a policy memo telling officers to treat adjustment of status as discretionary and to look more closely at past overstays, status violations and unauthorized work. If any of these apply to you, get advice before filing. Read our analysis of the May 2026 memo.
Bringing Family From Abroad: Consular Processing
If your relative lives outside the U.S., the case goes to the National Visa Center (NVC) after the I-130 is approved. Your relative submits the DS-260 immigrant visa application and civil documents, you submit an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) showing you can support them, and once a visa is available your relative attends an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. They become a permanent resident when they enter the U.S. on the immigrant visa.
K-1 Fiancé Visas and K-3 Spouse Visas
- K-1 fiancé visa: lets the foreign fiancé of a U.S. citizen enter the U.S. to marry. The couple must have met in person within the two years before filing, with limited exceptions, and must marry within 90 days of arrival. The K-1 visa does not itself grant permanent residence: after the wedding, the spouse files Form I-485 to apply for a green card. Their unmarried children under 21 can come on K-2 visas.
- K-3 spouse visa: lets the spouse of a U.S. citizen enter the U.S. while an I-130 is pending. It is rarely used today, because the immigrant visa is usually processed in about the same time.
Whether to marry abroad and file for an immigrant visa or use a K-1 visa depends on your timeline and circumstances; we can help you choose.
How Long Does a Family Petition Take?
For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, the total time is mostly the time USCIS takes to process the I-130 and the green card application or visa interview, often a year or more. For other family categories, there is an additional wait for a visa number, which can last many years depending on the category and the relative’s country of birth. You can follow the wait in the State Department’s monthly Visa Bulletin. See how long the I-130 takes.
Waivers and Complicated Family Cases
- Unlawful presence: relatives who stayed in the U.S. without status for more than 180 days and then leave can face a 3- or 10-year bar. Many can apply for a provisional unlawful presence waiver (Form I-601A) before leaving for their visa interview, based on hardship to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent.
- Prior removals, fraud or criminal records: may require other waivers or permission to reapply.
- Divorce, separation or death of the petitioner: may still allow you to continue your case. See how a divorce affects your immigration case.
- Requests for Evidence and denials: see what happens after an RFE response.
How Much Does a Family Immigration Lawyer Cost?
Fees depend on the type of case, whether the relative is in the U.S. or abroad, and whether a waiver is needed. Government filing fees are separate. We explain our fees clearly before you hire us. A consultation is a 30-minute appointment for $175, and online consultations are available. Our office is at 700 Holcomb Bridge Road in Norcross; see our Norcross immigration lawyer page.
