Quitman, GA Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

Assuming you are a U.S. citizen, there are two primary options for you and your fianc? to consider: you could get married in Scotland (or any other country outside the U.S.) and then proceed with consular processing to seek to authorize your husband to enter the U.S. and become a Lawful Permanent Resident (to get a "Green Card"), or you could petition for him to receive a fianc? visa which would authorize him to enter the U.S. to become married to you within the required time, and then proceed with a marriage-based adjustment of status application (with an application for him to receive an Employment Authorization Document allowing him to be employed while the adjustment of status application remains pending). There are advantages and disadvantages to each option, and the costs (including attorney's fees for legal representation) would depend upon both the choice of process and details not mentioned in your questions. It would be wise for you and your fianc? to consult with an immigration attorney who, after learning all of the relevant information about both you and your fiance, could advise about immigration eligibilities, options and strategies, including advice about costs/fees, time to achieve your goals, and attaining eligibility to work, and who could offer legal representation for the often complex application process.

The I-130 petitioner (your mother) must file a Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for the beneficiary (you). If the petitioner does not have sufficient documentable income, it may be necessary to have a joint sponsor who also files an Affidavit of Support. The joint sponsor generally may be any U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident who has sufficient documentable income and who is willing to assume the responsibilities specified in the Affidavit of Support. If your mother filed the Form I-130 petition without an Affidavit of Support, then it appears that she is not thoroughly familiar with the requirements for the application process. It would be wise for you and your mother to work with an immigration attorney who can assure that the process is properly handled in order to avoid further delays and even more harsh consequences. Some immigration law firms, including mine, offer legal services on a "flat fee" basis so that a client will know the total expense from the very beginning, and a few immigration law firms, including mine, offer an initial consultation free of charge.

You will start with an I-130 and then have him Consular Process. It can take about a year to complete. The filing fee for the I-130 is currently $420. The fee for Consular Processing is currently $465.