How Can We Help?
Helping Families
Through Immigration
Are you looking for a family-based immigration lawyer in Chicago, IL who can help reunite your family in the United States?
The path to bringing family members to the U.S. can feel overwhelming – with complex paperwork, long waiting periods, and constantly changing immigration rules.
But you don't have to handle everything alone.
Our dedicated family-based immigration lawyer at Ibrahim Law Office is here to help. We have helped hundreds of families just like yours successfully reunite through various family-based visa programs.
Our team knows exactly what it takes to turn your dream of family reunification into reality.
Call us now at 312-767-8611 to schedule a FREE and confidential consultation.
How Does The Application Process Work?
The process of family-based immigration can be lengthy and complicated, involving multiple government agencies and several important steps. Understanding the process can help you stay organized, and feel more confident and less stressed about the journey ahead.
1
File
2
USCIS
3
NVC
4
Interview
5
Issuance
Filing The Petition
Everything starts with what's called a Petition for Alien Relative, or Form I-130.
This form establishes your relationship with the relative you’re sponsoring and serves as the basis for the rest of the process.
If you're a U.S. citizen sponsoring your spouse or child, this step is relatively straightforward. For lawful permanent residents, there are a few more things to consider, and you might need to wait for a visa number to become available.
But don't worry - a dedicated family-based immigration lawyer could help you understand exactly where to begin.
USCIS Processing
Once we submit your petition, it goes to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) for review.
They'll check all your documentation and verify that your family relationship is valid. This typically takes several months, and they might ask for additional evidence.
That's why we make sure everything is thorough and accurate from the start - it helps avoid delays down the road.
NVC Processing
After USCIS approves your petition, it moves to the National Visa Center (NVC). This is where your family-based immigration lawyer will help you prepare for the visa interview. The NVC will need certain items from petitioners:
•Required fees
•Financial affidavits
•A completed DS-260 form (that's the Application for Immigrant Visa)
They'll also schedule the immigrant visa interview at the U.S. consulate or embassy in your family member's home country.
During this time, we'll also need to arrange medical exams and background checks.
Visa Interview
This is a crucial moment in the process. Your family member will meet with a consular officer at the U.S. embassy or consulate. The officer's job is to verify that the relationship is genuine and that your family member qualifies for the visa.
They'll need to bring original documents - things like birth certificates and marriage certificates.
Your family-based immigration lawyer will make sure you're thoroughly prepared for this important step.
Visa Issuance
When the interview goes well and everything checks out, your family member will receive their immigrant visa.
This is their ticket to travel to the U.S., where they'll be admitted as a lawful permanent resident.
They'll receive their green card, which gives them permanent residency status - a moment worth celebrating!
Fighting For
Your American Dream
Our clients across the globe recommend our diligent service and compassionate approach to their loved ones. We aim to be a reliable partner that our clients can depend on during challenging and uncertain times.
4
Languages
500+
Deportations avoided
1,000+
Green cards won
135
Countries served
LEARN ABOUT THE TYPES OF FAMILY-BASED VISAS
Before applying for a visa, you’ll need to understand which category fits your family’s situation. Our Chicago family-based immigration lawyer is delighted to answer any questions you might have concerning the various types of visas.
The U.S. immigration system has created two main categories of family-based visas: Immediate Relative (IR) visas and Family Preference (F) visas.
IR (Immediate Relative) Visas
IR visas are available to close family members of U.S. citizens.
These visas are considered the most straightforward and have no annual cap on the number of visas issued, meaning there is typically less waiting time.
You can apply for an IR visa if you're:
• A U.S. citizen sponsoring your spouse
• A U.S. citizen sponsoring your unmarried child (under 21)
• A U.S. citizen (21 or older) sponsoring your parents
These visas tend to move through the system more quickly than other categories, which means you could be reunited with your family sooner than those seeking immigration solutions through other channels.
F Visas (Family Preference)
The F visa category is for family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who fall into a broader range of relationships.
These visas are subject to annual caps, which means the waiting time can be longer.
The Family Preference categories include:
• F1: Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years or older) of U.S. citizens
• F2A: Spouses and children (under 21) of lawful permanent residents (LPRs)
• F2B: Unmarried children (21 or older) of lawful permanent residents
• F3: Married sons and daughters of • U.S. citizens
• F4: Siblings of U.S. citizens (only if the U.S. citizen is 21 years or older)
We want to be upfront with you: the waiting periods for these categories can be quite long, especially for F3 and F4. But don't worry - a family-based immigration lawyer could help you understand exactly what to expect.
Choosing an experienced family-based immigration lawyer is the key to ensuring that your family’s immigration case goes as smoothly as possible.
Here's why families throughout Chicago choose to work with us:
Experience and Dedication
Immigration law is what we do, day in and day out. Our family-based immigration attorney stays current with changing laws and policies to give your case the best chance of success.
Our deep understanding of family-based immigration means we can anticipate and address potential issues before they become problems.
Personalized Attention and Care
Your family isn't just another case number to us. We take the time to understand your unique situation and create a strategy to address your legal needs.
You'll always know what's happening with your case and what to expect next.
Proven Track Record of Success
Our track record speaks for itself. Ibrahim Law’s family-based immigration lawyer has helped hundreds of families reunite from our offices in Chicago. Our success stories aren't just statistics – they're families like yours who trusted us with their dreams of being together.
We bring that same dedication and precision to every new case we handle.
Why Choose Ibrahim Law?
Ibrahim Law is a dedicated and compassionate firm that offers ongoing legal support for a variety of legal immigration issues. We’ve helped countless clients obtain visas, residency, and naturalization. We are proud of being rated positively by SuperLawyers.com.
Our family-based immigration lawyer, Michael Ibrahim, is the son of immigrants. He understands the struggles his clients face and works tirelessly to help them reach their dreams and goals. He is a passionate, trustworthy, and dedicated attorney who helps clients all over the world.
Immigration Attorneys In Chicago
Your family's reunion is too important to leave to chance. Whether you're just starting this journey or need help with an existing case, we're here to help make it happen.
At the Ibrahim Law Office, we understand what this means to you, and we're ready to help guide you through every step of the process.
Call us today for a FREE consultation, and let's talk about how our family-based immigration attorney could help reunite your family.
Don't wait to start building your future together.
Contact Us
"I see my parents struggle in all of my client's cases."
Frequently Asked Questions
This depends on your relationship to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
Immediate relatives (spouses, children, and parents) generally have the smoothest path. For other family members, eligibility depends on factors like your immigration status and their relationship to you.
This varies by relationship, but typically you'll need documents like birth certificates and marriage certificates. For spouses, you'll also need to show that your relationship is genuine through things like photos, correspondence, and joint accounts.
Don't worry if you're missing something - we could help you understand exactly what you need and how to get it.
While you're not legally required to have an immigration attorney, having one can make a significant difference.
Think of it this way: a small mistake or missing document could delay your case by months or even lead to a denial. We help our clients get it right the first time, potentially saving them time, money, and stress in the long run.
While we wish we could give you an exact timeline, the truth is it varies. Immediate Relative visas typically move faster - usually 6 months to 1 year. Family Preference visas often take longer because of visa caps and waitlists.
But don't let these timeframes discourage you – our Chicago family-based visa lawyer could help you understand your specific timeline and work to move your case forward as efficiently as possible.
This is one of our most common questions, and the answer depends on your current status and the type of petition filed. In many cases, you might be eligible for a work permit while your case is pending.
An experienced family-based immigration lawyer can explain your options and help you apply for work authorization if you qualify.
A denial isn't necessarily the end of the road. Depending on the reason for denial, we might be able to appeal the decision, file a motion to reopen the case, or submit a new petition.
We'll help you understand your options and choose the best path forward.
Hear From Our
Clients
"One of the top immigration lawyers in Chicagoland. Michael Ibrahim is attentive, supportive, and knowledgeable. One of his best abilities is his availability. He responds to emails with attention and detail, often on the same day. Don't underestimate that in dealing with any immigration matter. He is personable; he does not simply collect fees and treat you like a client but rather like a friend. Your success is his success, and he understands that. If Michael were a surgeon, accountant, or another lawyer in any other field. I would want him. You cannot replicate him.." -Yousef S.
"My wife and I are very thankful for Micheal Ibrahim. Before we hired him, we approached many immigration lawyers over ten years to duplicate documents that were destroyed in a fire. The results were disappointing. Micheal was able to find the lost documents. My wife got her permanent residency. He was always available for us during a stressful time. We would like to thank Michael for his knowledge, professionalism, and expertise. We would definitely recommend Michael for immigration services." -Farzad D.
"Michael took over my case, which had been in immigration proceedings for many years, and I am so glad that he did. He is very professional, kept my husband, and I informed of every step of the process, and gave us the most honest and beneficial advice! Highly recommended for anyone who is in need of a great immigration attorney! Thank you again, Michael!" -Nida F.
