The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services allows immigrants to join loved ones in the country based on their family relationships. You can apply for an immediate relative or family preference visa, depending on your relationship with the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Regardless of the visa type you are applying for, you should be careful about the moves you make.
Below are four family immigration mistakes to avoid:
Not providing the required documents
When applying for a family-based visa, you will submit certain documents to the USCIS. They are on their website, but you can also contact them for more information. Not submitting any of the required documents can affect your application.
Not submitting translated documents
If your documents are not in English, you should get translations. The USCIS may request the original paperwork in addition to the translations.
Note that you need certified translations – you will include a signed statement affirming the translation is complete and accurate. Numerous online platforms offer this service, but anyone competent to translate your documents can help do this.
Not signing documents
Most immigration forms require signatures (yours and your relative’s). Not signing can lead to rejection. The USCIS may return the document to provide signatures, which can lengthen the process for you.
Therefore, you should review every document to ensure you and your loved one have signed where required before submitting.
Forgetting fees
You should include the required filing fee for all the forms you submit. Not including the fee or the proper one is a mistake. You should confirm the correct amount for each form and the accepted payment method.
These mistakes can affect your family-based immigration application. It can help to get legal guidance to know the moves to make.