Obtaining Permanent Residence

in the U.S. for an

Overseas Family Member

NOTE: This article is intended to be a brief summary of law only, parts of which may or MAY NOT be applicable to your situation. While an effort is made to keep this info. up-to-date and accurate, this article was not written with your situation in mind and thus DOES NOT constitute legal advice. Only an immigration attorney, one familiar with U.S. immigration law, should counsel you in this area.

Check out our

Immigration Web Links!

<<<<<<<<<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 <<<<<<<<<

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Green Card for Overseas Family Member

Forms Required

Permanent Residency - Spouse

Permanent Residency - Parent

Other Documents Required for Green Card

Residency Status

U.S. Citizenship Status

Family Status

Marriage Status

Financial Qualifications

Costs of Applying for a Green Card

Where to File Green Card Documents

Maintaining Continuous U.S. Residence
While Overseas

Green Card Requirements

Green Card Suggestions

Green Card Misconceptions

A Sample Plan for Maintaining U.S. Permanent Residency While Overseas

Role of the
Immigration Attorney

Business Law Home

Additional Documents Required

(…continued)

Documents Evidencing
Financial Qualifications:

(Must show yearly income of at least $15,150)

· 3 years of sponsor’s U.S. federal income tax returns, and

· Proof of sponsor’s current employment or self employment (e.g., letter from employer), and

· Proof of assets (must be at least five times the difference between sponsor’s yearly income and $15,150), such as an official bank statement, letter from bank, etc.

- and/or -

If green card holder sponsors, but uses U.S. citizen household member’s income information to qualify (i.e., the U.S. citizen household member also files I-864):

· 3-years of U.S. citizen household member’s federal tax returns, and

· Proof of U.S. citizen household member’s current employment, and

· Proof of U.S. citizen household member’s assets (must be at least five times the difference between the sponsor’s yearly income and $15,150), such as bank statement, official letter from bank, etc.

Documents Evidencing
Citizenship:

· Copy of sponsor’s U.S. passport,

· Official copy of sponsor’s U.S. birth certificate, and

· Copy of sponsor’s Social Security card.

Documents Evidencing
Family Status:

· Copy of sponsor’s birth certificate showing names of both parents, and/or

· Copy of parent’s marriage certificate, and/or

· Documents proving divorce if parents had previous marriage(s)

Documents Evidencing
Financial Qualifications:

· 3 years of federal tax returns, and

· Proof of sponsor’s current employment (e.g., official, authorized letter from employer).

Cost Involved

Filing I-130 = $130, check or money order.

Where to File

(For other states, see our
Immigration Links, or ask your immigration attorney to prepare and file the documents for you.)

Illinois: USINS Nebraska Service Center

P.O. Box 87130

Lincoln, NE 68501-7130

New York: USINS Vermont Service Center

75 Lower Welden St.
Saint Albans, Vermont 05479

If you would like further information about this topic, have comments about this article or website, or would like to request immigration attorney services, click here to contact us today.

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