Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Connecticut

U.S. immigration law allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to sponsor certain family members for immigration benefits. For many families, this is the clearest path to bringing loved ones together legally and permanently.

The process is paperwork-heavy, deadline-driven, and unforgiving of mistakes. Small errors — a missing document, an incorrectly completed form, a missed deadline — can delay a case by months or result in a denial. I help Connecticut families navigate family-based immigration from start to finish.

Call (860) 560-8382 or complete the contact form to schedule a consultation.

Who Can Sponsor Whom

U.S. immigration law divides family-based immigration into two broad categories:

Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens

These family members receive priority and are not subject to annual numerical limits:

• Spouses of U.S. citizens
• Unmarried children (under 21) of U.S. citizens
• Parents of U.S. citizens (when the citizen is 21 or older)
• Widows/widowers of U.S. citizens (with specific filing requirements)

Because there are no numerical caps, immediate relative cases typically move faster than family preference cases — though current processing times have lengthened significantly.

Family Preference Categories

These are subject to annual numerical caps, which creates wait times that can range from a few years to over 20 years depending on the category and the applicant's country of origin:

• F1: Unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of U.S. citizens
• F2A: Spouses and unmarried children (under 21) of lawful permanent residents
• F2B: Unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of lawful permanent residents
• F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
• F4: Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (when the citizen is 21 or older)

The Department of State Visa Bulletin, published monthly, shows current priority dates and wait times for each category.

Family-Based Services I Provide

Most family-based cases involve a series of related steps. I handle the full range:

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative The first step in almost every family-based case. The U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident petitioner files Form I-130 with USCIS to establish the qualifying family relationship. Proper documentation of the relationship — and, for spousal cases, proof that the marriage is bona fide — is critical.

I-485 Adjustment of Status For qualifying beneficiaries already in the United States in lawful status, Form I-485 is the application to become a lawful permanent resident without leaving the country. Typically includes medical examination (I-693), affidavit of support (I-864), and an in-person USCIS interview.

Consular Processing For beneficiaries outside the United States — or in some cases, those inside the U.S. who must process abroad — the immigrant visa application proceeds through a U.S. consulate in the beneficiary's home country. Requires coordination with the National Visa Center and a consular interview.

I-751 Removal of Conditions Marriage-based green cards granted when a marriage is less than two years old are issued on a conditional basis. Within 90 days before the two-year anniversary of the green card, the couple must file Form I-751 to remove conditions and receive a full 10-year green card. This deadline is strict — missing it can result in termination of status.

I-864 Affidavit of Support The financial sponsorship commitment required in most family-based cases. Proper preparation matters — inadequate sponsorship income is a common cause of case delays and denials.

I-90 Green Card Renewal For lawful permanent residents whose 10-year green card is expiring, or whose card has been lost, stolen, or damaged.

Family-Based Waivers Including I-601 and I-601A waivers of inadmissibility for qualifying relatives where certain grounds of inadmissibility (such as unlawful presence) would otherwise bar a family member's case. These waivers require demonstrating extreme hardship to a qualifying U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family member — a case-specific, evidence-heavy undertaking.

K-1 Fiancé Visa

For U.S. citizens planning to marry a foreign national and bring them to the U.S. for the wedding, the K-1 Fiancé Visa is a distinct process with its own requirements and timeline. See my K-1 Fiancé Visa page for detailed information.

Citizenship & Naturalization

Lawful permanent residents who meet the residency and eligibility requirements may apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization. See my Citizenship & Naturalization page for detailed information.

The Current Landscape — What Families Should Know

Family-based immigration in 2026 looks different from a few years ago. A few realities worth knowing:

Processing times have lengthened. USCIS processing times for many family-based applications have increased across the board. Cases that used to take 12-15 months may now take 20-24 months or longer. Budget accordingly.

Country-specific processing restrictions. As of early 2026, USCIS has paused processing of certain immigration benefits — including green card adjustments and naturalization — for nationals of a defined list of countries subject to current travel restrictions. If you or your beneficiary is from one of these countries, we'll address this at the outset and plan accordingly.

Heightened scrutiny. Current USCIS policy involves more extensive vetting of applications, including social media reviews for certain case types. Complete, well-documented, and carefully prepared applications are more important than ever.

Marriage-based cases. For spousal cases, USCIS scrutiny of marriage bona fides remains rigorous. Proof of a genuine marriage — joint finances, shared residence, photos, communications, testimony from people who know the couple — is essential. I help clients compile this evidence thoroughly before filing.

Fee increases. USCIS filing fees have increased, and additional fees (including a new annual fee for certain pending cases) now apply in some categories. I walk clients through expected fees at the outset.

How I Work With Family-Based Clients

My typical family-based engagement looks like:

1. Initial consultation — We discuss the family relationship, immigration histories of everyone involved, and the goals. I assess eligibility, identify any potential issues (including grounds of inadmissibility), and recommend a pathway.
2. Documentation gathering — I provide a detailed document checklist tailored to your case, review what you produce, and flag gaps.
3. Petition preparation — All forms prepared, evidence organized, and case submitted.
4. Ongoing case management — Responding to Requests for Evidence (RFEs), tracking processing, communicating with USCIS as needed.
5. Interview preparation — For cases requiring a USCIS or consular interview, thorough preparation to ensure you're ready.
6. Follow-through — Through decision and, where applicable, subsequent steps like removal of conditions or naturalization.

I aim to be the single point of contact for the family throughout the case, so you're not navigating USCIS correspondence or government systems alone.

Schedule a Consultation

If you're hoping to bring a family member to the United States, sponsor a spouse, or navigate a marriage-based green card case, let's talk. Call (860) 560-8382 or complete the contact form to schedule a consultation.

Law Office of Aakash Sharma, LLC 750 Main Street, Suite 100 Hartford, CT 06103 (860) 560-8382 [email protected]

Aakash Sharma is admitted to practice in Connecticut. This page is attorney advertising. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Immigration law changes frequently; this page reflects information current as of April 2026. Submitting a contact form does not create an attorney-client relationship.