Senior lawyer
Lawyer practicing international migration. Specializes in issues of migration law - paperwork on the territory of Ukraine and the countries of the European Union (Romania, Hungary, Spain, Czech Republic).
USA Family Reunion Visa
The United States of America has always been a country of great opportunities, but the highest value for every person remains their family.
Family Reunification Visa in the USA — this is one of the most reliable and popular ways for Ukrainians to legally immigrate to America, obtain the coveted Green Card, and build their future next to their dearest people.
Family immigration to America is regulated by complex and multifaceted migration legislation, which requires flawless knowledge of legal procedures and an understanding of all the nuances.
Our many years of experience show that independent attempts to understand American bureaucracy often lead to delays for years or even denials.
We provide comprehensive support, so that you can successfully and stress-free obtain a visa to the USA, avoiding typical mistakes at every stage of the process.
What is Family Immigration and Who is Eligible to Move?
US immigration law clearly divides all applicants into two large groups. The speed of document processing, the total cost of the US visa, and the procedure for completing all stages depend on which category you belong to.
Key factors are the degree of relationship and the civil status of your sponsor (whether they are a citizen of the United States or a Lawful Permanent Resident — a Green Card holder).
Immediate Relatives (IR) of US Citizens
This category is the most privileged in immigration law. There are no annual quotas from the US government for immediate relatives, so US visa documents for Ukrainians in this group are processed much faster, without the need to wait in line for years.
- IR-1 / CR-1: Confirmed spouses of American citizens. If your marriage is less than two years old at the moment of crossing the border, a conditional CR-1 visa is issued, the status of which will need to be changed after two years.
- IR-2: Unmarried children of American citizens who are not yet 21 years old at the time of filing the documents.
- IR-5: Biological parents of US citizens (provided the citizen-sponsor has reached at least 21 years of age to file the petition).
Family Preference Categories
Strict annual limits (quotas) exist for these types of family relationships. When the limit is exhausted, a queue is formed, the movement of which every applicant can track through the monthly government Visa Bulletin.
- F1: Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens, over 21 years old.
- F2A: Spouses and minor unmarried children of Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR).
- F2B: Unmarried adult children (over 21 years old) of Lawful Permanent Residents.
- F3: Married sons and daughters of American citizens and their own families.
- F4: Biological brothers and sisters of adult American citizens.
Key Stages of Family Reunification Visa Processing
Obtaining a family visa is a legal marathon that requires attention to detail. A consultation with a visa lawyer will help structure this process and complete it as comfortably as possible.
- Filing Petition I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative). This is the first and basic step. Your relative in the States (sponsor) files this form with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Proof of family ties must be attached to the petition: certificates, photographs, bank statements.
- USCIS Approval and Case Transfer to NVC. After careful review and approval of the I-130 petition, the case is physically transferred to the National Visa Center (NVC). At this stage, government fees are paid and the voluminous immigrant online application — Form DS-260 — is completed.
- Affidavit of Support (Form I-864). The sponsor is obliged to document their financial ability to support you in the USA. The sponsor’s official income must be no lower than 125% of the federal poverty line.
- Medical Examination (I-693). Every Ukrainian applicant is required to undergo a specialized medical examination exclusively at a certified clinic approved by the American embassy.
- Consular Interview. The final frontier. In today’s conditions, consular services for citizens of Ukraine on immigration matters are most often provided in Frankfurt or Warsaw. The visa officer checks the original documents, ensures there is no marriage fraud, and makes the final decision.
US Visa Documents for Ukrainians: What to Collect
Forming the correct package of documents is a critically important stage. Any inaccuracy can lead to a Request for Evidence (RFE) and case delays.
You will need:
- Valid foreign passport (with a validity period of at least 6 months after the planned date of entry).
- Birth certificates, current marriage certificate, and all previous divorce decrees (with mandatory certified translation into English).
- Original police clearance certificates from all countries where you lived for more than 6 months after the age of 16.
- Financial guarantees from your sponsor (Form I-864, W-2 or 1040 tax returns for the last three years, employment certificates).
- Proof of the authenticity of the relationship for spouses (joint bank accounts, lease agreements, correspondence, joint travel).
Comparison of Family Visa Categories
To help you better plan your future, we have prepared a table with estimated timelines. The timelines are dynamic and depend on the workload of government centers.
| Visa Category Type | Sponsor’s Civil Status in the USA | Estimated Processing Waiting Time |
| IR-1 / CR-1 | US Citizen (sponsoring wife/husband) | From 12 to 18 months |
| F2A | Green Card Holder (sponsoring spouse or child) | From 24 to 36 months |
| F1 | US Citizen (sponsoring unmarried adult child) | From 6 to 8 years |
| F4 | US Citizen (sponsoring brother or sister) | From 15 to 20 years |
Why should you order visa processing from an immigration lawyer?
The American migration system is known for its strict bureaucracy. A minor error in the DS-260 form, weak evidence in the petition, or an incorrectly calculated financial affidavit can ruin your plans.
An immigration lawyer, whose service price is fully justified by saving your time and nerves, takes full legal responsibility for your case.
We develop a winning individual strategy, meticulously check every letter in your forms, prepare you for the stressful interview, and represent your interests before US government agencies. Legal assistance, whether in Kyiv or any other city in Ukraine, is an investment in your peaceful future.
Ready to start the legal relocation process and want to find out what the US visa cost will be in your specific situation? Don’t waste time trying to independently overcome the complex USCIS instructions.
Our law firm, with its main office located in Kyiv, helps clients from all over Ukraine successfully reunite families every day. Leave an application on our website right now or call for an initial consultation to order visa processing from professionals!
Calculate the cost of services
1 question
Have you received US visas before?
2 question
Do you have the opportunity to travel abroad to the US Consulate?
3 question
Is your host currently located in the United States?
4 question
Are your parents US citizens?
5 question
Is your wife/husband a US citizen or resident?
6 question
Is your brother/sister a US citizen?
Is it possible to get a consultation online if it is not possible to come to the office?
Of course. We provide consultations both online and in the office. Online consultation is possible in any convenient way for the client. It can be a video call through a convenient messenger or a video conference format.
Do we provide free consultations?
The answer to this question is no. We do not offer free consultations. If you have one or two questions, the lawyer/lawyer will of course tell you, but we provide detailed consultations on a paid basis.
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