Houston Family-Based Immigration Lawyers

A Houston Family Visa Attorney Who Has Been Through the Process Himself

Family-based immigration allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residency in the United States. The process involves strict documentation requirements, USCIS procedural rules, and, depending on the family relationship, potentially years on a waiting list. At Sebastian Simon Law Group, PLLC, our family visa attorneys in Houston guide petitioning families through every stage, from filing the initial Form I-130 through green card approval.

Founding Attorney Sebastian Simon immigrated to the United States from Chile and personally navigated the U.S. immigration system. That firsthand experience shapes how our firm approaches petition strategy, interview preparation, and client communication. We don’t just know the law; we understand what it feels like to go through the process. We serve clients in Houston, across the U.S., and internationally, with services available in English and Spanish.

Our family immigration practice has earned recognition, including listings among Houston’s Top Immigration Lawyers by H-Texas Magazine (2016–2018), Avvo Clients Choice recognition, and a Super Lawyers designation. We’re available 24/7 for families who can’t afford to wait.

Which Family Members Can Be Petitioned?

Eligibility depends on whether the sponsoring party is a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident (LPR). The distinction matters: some relatives of U.S. citizens qualify as immediate relatives, meaning no annual visa cap applies and no waiting period for a visa number once the petition is approved. Relatives outside that category fall under family preference tiers, which carry annual numerical limits and can involve multi-year wait times.

U.S. Citizens May Petition For

U.S. citizens have the broadest sponsorship rights under federal immigration law:

• A spouse
• Unmarried children under the age of 21
• Parents (if the sponsoring citizen is at least 21)
• Unmarried children 21 and older, and their children
• Married children of any age, and their children
• Siblings and their children (if the sponsoring citizen is at least 21)

Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens qualify as immediate relatives and aren’t subject to annual visa caps. All other relatives listed above fall under family preference categories.

Lawful Permanent Residents May Petition For

Green card holders may sponsor a narrower group of relatives, all of whom fall under the family preference system and are subject to annual numerical limits:

• A spouse
• Unmarried children under 21
• Unmarried children 21 and older

Our family visa lawyers can advise you on which category applies to your relative, what your priority date means for wait times, and how changes in your immigration status could affect the petition.

How the Petition Process Works for Houston Families

The petition begins with USCIS approving Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, which establishes the qualifying family relationship between the sponsor and the intended immigrant. Accuracy in this filing matters: errors or incomplete documentation can trigger Requests for Evidence (RFEs), delays, or outright denials.

Sponsors must also file an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864 or I-864-EZ), which requires the sponsor to be at least 18 years old and domiciled in the United States. Sponsors petitioning for siblings or parents must themselves be at least 21. No minimum age applies to other family petitions, but the I-864 requirement still stands.

Adjustment of Status vs. Consular Processing

Once the I-130 is approved, what happens next depends on where the relative is located. If the relative entered the U.S. lawfully and remains in the country, adjustment of status (Form I-485) may allow them to apply for a green card without leaving. If the relative lives abroad, the case transfers to the National Visa Center and then proceeds through consular processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate in the relative’s home country. Both paths involve interviews, and both require careful preparation.

Spouses of U.S. citizens who have been married less than two years at the time of green card approval receive a conditional green card valid for two years. Conditions must be removed by filing jointly with the sponsoring spouse within the 90-day window before the card expires. Our attorneys help clients track these deadlines and prepare well in advance.

Effective May 18, 2026, attorneys must be physically present at USCIS field office interviews. We represent clients in person at the USCIS Houston Field Office and understand how local interview procedures work in practice.

For a consultation with a Houston family immigration lawyer, contact us online. We can also be reached in Houston at (713) 839-0639. Services are available in Spanish.