Lewisville, TX Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

You can petition for your husband even though he is currently out of status. The petition is filed on form I-130. However, he won't be eligible to apply for adjustment of status (permanent residency) until you have become a naturalized citizen.

As you know, your L-1A is based upon your employer being related to an overseas organization in which you served prior to coming to the States. If the oil and gas industry in the U. S. was in the dire straits of earlier years, you could possibly be sponsored directly for the green card under a national interest waiver. That might prove not to be so viable in these times. Hopefully the new US-based employer has already applied for an H-1B petition for you in the first 5 business days of April if it was inclined to put you on an H-1B status. If you are very well-known in your field and have recognized achievements, you may be eligible for an O-1 extraordinary alien visa. In such case, you may also be eligible for EB-1A recognition for the green card. Finally if you are recognized researcher in the field of oil and gas with publications or patents and recognition for your research, you may be eligible for EB-1B recognition as an outstanding researcher. If qualified for either EB-1A or EB-1B, you could possibly go directly to the green card. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.

The I130 is taking about 6-8 months to get approved. Then you will have to do the National Visa Center processing for your mother that can take 2-3 months before your mother is given an appointment at the US consulate in her country. Once you file an I130 for your sister it will take over 10 years for her to immigrate depending on which country she is from. Your sister does not come in with your mum, you will have to file a separate I130 for her and wait for the visa's to be current for her to immigrate.