Washington Family Immigration Petition Lawyers

Family petitions are how U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents bring spouses, children, parents and siblings into lawful status. The process looks simple on the forms and is unforgiving in practice: a missed deadline, an unexplained gap in the record or an old entry problem can turn a routine case into years of delay.

The family immigration attorneys at Ritchie-Reiersen Injury & Immigration Attorneys file petitions and adjustment applications with USCIS and handle consular cases at U.S. embassies around the world. We tell you up front which path fits your family, what it costs, how long it is likely to take and where the risks are. Consultations are available in English and Spanish.

Who Can You Petition For?

What you can file, and how fast it moves, depends on your own status and your relationship to the family member.

• U.S. citizens can petition for a spouse, unmarried children under 21, and parents (if the citizen is at least 21). These are immediate relatives, and a visa is always available to them.
• U.S. citizens can also petition for unmarried sons and daughters over 21, married sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters (if the citizen is at least 21). These fall into preference categories with annual limits and waiting lists.
• Lawful permanent residents can petition for a spouse, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried sons and daughters over 21. These are also preference categories.

Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws cannot be petitioned directly. If you are unsure whether your relationship qualifies, ask before filing. A petition filed in the wrong category is denied without refund.

The Petition: Form I-130

Every family case starts with Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, filed by the U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The petition proves two things: that the petitioner has the status claimed and that the family relationship is real. For marriage cases this means evidence of a genuine shared life, such as joint leases, bank accounts, insurance, photographs and statements from people who know you as a couple. USCIS looks closely at marriages that are recent, that followed removal proceedings or that involve a large age gap, and an officer may schedule an interview with both spouses.

Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing

Once the I-130 is approved and a visa is available, the family member obtains residence one of two ways:

• Adjustment of status (Form I-485): The family member is in the United States and applies for the green card without leaving. Immediate relatives who entered with inspection can usually file the I-130 and I-485 together. Adjustment is not available to everyone, and an unlawful entry or certain prior violations can rule it out.
• Consular processing: The family member attends an immigrant visa interview at the U.S. consulate in their home country. This is the path for people outside the United States and for many who cannot adjust from inside. Leaving the country can trigger a bar to returning for people who have accrued unlawful presence, which is why consular cases are often paired with a provisional waiver.

Choosing the wrong path can separate a family for years. We review the full immigration history before recommending one.

Waiting Times and Priority Dates

Immediate relatives do not wait for a visa number, so their timeline is driven only by processing times. Preference categories receive a priority date when the I-130 is filed and must wait until that date becomes current on the Department of State Visa Bulletin. Waits range from a few years to more than two decades depending on the category and country of birth. During the wait, the beneficiary generally has no status from the pending petition alone, so other options such as a fiance visa, a different category or a parent petitioning instead may make sense. We map these choices out with you.

Common Problems in Family Cases

• Entry without inspection, which usually blocks adjustment of status and requires consular processing with a waiver
• Prior deportation orders or removal proceedings that must be addressed before any petition can help
• Criminal history, even old or minor offenses, which can make a relative inadmissible
• Prior marriages that were not properly ended, or a previous marriage-based petition that was denied
• Public charge concerns and the Affidavit of Support, which requires the petitioner or a joint sponsor to meet income requirements
• Aging out: a child who turns 21 during the process may move to a slower category unless the Child Status Protection Act applies

Most of these can be solved, but only if they are identified before filing. We review every case for these issues first.

Fiance Visas and Spouses Abroad

A U.S. citizen engaged to someone abroad can file Form I-129F for a K-1 fiance visa. The fiance enters the United States, the couple marries within 90 days, and the new spouse then applies for adjustment of status. For couples already married, the choice is usually between an immigrant visa through the consulate and, in some circumstances, a K-3 visa. We help you compare timing and cost for your situation.

Why Families Choose Ritchie-Reiersen

• Attorneys who have handled family-based petitions, adjustment of status and consular cases at U.S. embassies worldwide
• Spanish-speaking attorneys who meet with both spouses and prepare you for the interview in your language
• Eleven offices across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Arizona, with phone and video consultations
• Honest advice about timelines and risks before you spend money on filing fees

Related Guides

• Adjustment of Status vs. Consular Processing
• How Long Does Naturalization Take in Washington?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a family petition take?

For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, the combined petition and green card process commonly takes one to two years depending on USCIS processing times and whether the case is adjustment or consular. Preference categories add the Visa Bulletin wait, which can be several years or more. An attorney can estimate the current timeline for your specific category and country.

Can I petition for my spouse if they entered without a visa?

Yes, you can file the I-130. Whether your spouse can get the green card inside the United States or must go through the consulate with a waiver depends on how they entered and their immigration history. This is one of the most important questions to answer before filing.

Can a green card holder petition for a spouse?

Yes. A lawful permanent resident can petition for a spouse and unmarried children. These cases fall into the F2A preference category, which has a waiting list, so the timing is different from a petition filed by a U.S. citizen.

What is the Affidavit of Support?

Form I-864 is a contract in which the petitioner promises the government that the immigrant will not need certain public benefits. The petitioner must show income above a threshold tied to household size. If the petitioner does not earn enough, a joint sponsor can sign as well.

Do I need a lawyer for a family petition?

Many families file on their own and succeed. A lawyer matters most when there is any complication in the history: an unlawful entry, a prior order, a criminal record, a previous denial or a marriage that USCIS may question. In those cases the first filing often decides the outcome.

Our Immigration Attorneys

Attorney Eric Reiersen, also fluent in Spanish, practices immigration law alongside the team. Every consultation is available in English or Spanish.

We meet clients at our offices in Kennewick, Tacoma, Auburn, Yakima, Moses Lake, Everett, Spokane, Wenatchee, Portland, OR, Twin Falls, ID, Mesa, AZ. Phone and video consultations are available throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Arizona.

Talk to an Immigration Lawyer

Call (888) 884-7337 or send us a message to schedule a confidential consultation. Se habla español.