{"id":8649,"date":"2026-02-19T21:18:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T02:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dglawga.com\/?page_id=8649"},"modified":"2026-02-24T21:12:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T02:12:00","slug":"family-petitions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dglawga.com\/en\/family-petitions\/","title":{"rendered":"Family Petitions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reuniting Families, One Case at a Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Families belong together. If your loved one is outside the United States \u2014 or here without permanent status \u2014 a family-based petition may be the first step to securing their future and keeping your family united.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Diaz and Gaeta Law, our immigration team guides families through every step of the petition process with care, clarity, and respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is a Family-Based Petition?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A family petition (Form I-130 and related applications) is how a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder) asks the U.S. government to recognize a qualifying family relationship and start the process for their relative to obtain a green card (permanent residency) or take the next step toward immigrating legally to the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This process can be done whether your loved one is currently inside the U.S. (adjustment of status) or outside the U.S. and will complete the process through a U.S. consulate (consular processing).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Can Petition for Whom?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">U.S. Citizens can typically petition for:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Spouse.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Unmarried children under 21.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Unmarried sons and daughters over 21.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Married sons and daughters of any age.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Parents (if the U.S. citizen is 21 or older).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Sometimes, certain stepchildren and stepparents, if the relationship meets legal requirements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card Holders) can typically petition for:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Spouse<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Unmarried children (under and over 21)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Each category has its own rules, waiting times, and visa availability. Our attorneys can review your family tree and explain which options may work best for your situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Family Petition Scenarios We Handle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">U.S. citizen petitioning a spouse who entered with or without a visa<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Green card holder petitioning a spouse or child abroad<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">U.S. citizen petitioning parents living outside the U.S.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Complex cases involving prior deportations, unlawful presence, or criminal history<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Cases requiring waivers or additional evidence to prove a real marriage or relationship<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Transition from fianc\u00e9 visa (K-1) to marriage-based green card<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the Process Works (Overview)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">While every case is different, most family petition cases involve steps like:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Consultation &amp; Strategy<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>We listen to your story, review your immigration history, and identify risks, options, and timelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2.<\/strong> <strong>Filing the Family Petition (Form I-130)<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>We prepare and submit a detailed packet to prove your qualifying relationship, including evidence of a bona fide marriage or genuine parent\/child relationship, when required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3.<\/strong> <strong>Next Step: Green Card or Consular Process<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on where your loved one is and their immigration history, we guide you through adjustment of status inside the U.S., or consular processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4.<\/strong> <strong>Interview Preparation &amp; Follow-Up<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>We prepare you and your family member for the interview, explain what to expect, and respond to any requests for additional evidence from USCIS or the consulate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Work with an Immigration Attorney for a Family Petition?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Family petitions look \u201csimple\u201d on paper, but small mistakes can cause big problems:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Delays of months or even years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Denials due to missing evidence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Triggering bars to reentry or other serious consequences in complex cases. Our immigration team helps you:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Understand which option is safest for your family.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Avoid common errors and missing documents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Prepare strong evidence of your relationship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Navigate possible waivers and complications- Stay informed at each stage of the process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You focus on your family. We focus on the legal details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to Bring to Your Consultation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">To make the most of your first meeting, bring:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Green card, naturalization certificate, or U.S. passport (for the petitioner).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Any visas, I-94 records, or prior immigration documents for your family member<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Marriage certificate, birth certificates, divorce decrees (if any).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">Any prior immigration applications, denials, or court papers- Criminal records or court dispositions, if applicable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t have everything yet, don\u2019t worry \u2014 we\u2019ll help you figure out what\u2019s missing and how to obtain it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ready to Start Your Family Petition?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re thinking about petitioning for a spouse, child, parent, or other qualifying family member, don\u2019t wait to get answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Contact Diaz &amp; Gaeta Law today<\/strong> <a href=\"tel:+16785032780\"><strong>678-503-2780<\/strong><\/a> to schedule a confidential consultation with our immigration team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your family\u2019s future in the United States matters. Let our team help you take the next step \u2014 together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reuniting Families, One Case at a Time Families belong together. If your loved one is outside the United States \u2014 or here without permanent status \u2014 a family-based petition may be the first step to securing their future and keeping your family united. At Diaz and Gaeta Law, our immigration team guides families through every [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":8765,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"immigration","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,4,74,50,75,52,76,51],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8649","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-atlanta-location-es","category-atlanta-location","category-marietta-location-es","category-marietta-location","category-sandy-springs-location-es","category-sandy-springs-location","category-smyrna-location-es","category-smyrna-location"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dglawga.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dglawga.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dglawga.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dglawga.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dglawga.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8649"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dglawga.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8649\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8768,"href":"https:\/\/dglawga.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8649\/revisions\/8768"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dglawga.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dglawga.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dglawga.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dglawga.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}