{"id":1251,"date":"2026-10-30T06:02:40","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T06:02:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/136-108-18-25.nip.io\/family-petitions-lawyers-houston\/"},"modified":"2026-10-30T09:31:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T09:31:11","slug":"family-petitions-lawyers-houston","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/abogadaadrianagomez.com\/resources\/family-petitions-lawyers-houston\/","title":{"rendered":"Family Petitions: How the Process Works"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Family Petitions<\/p>

Family Petitions: Understand the Process Before You File<\/h1>

AG Immigration Law P.A. focuses on family-based immigration. Learn the steps, the paperwork and the questions to ask, then contact our office to talk through your situation.<\/p>

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By Adriana Gomez \u00b7 Published October 30, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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Family Petitions for Clients in Houston: How the Process Works<\/h2>\n

If you’re looking for help with family petitions, start here. A family petition is a filing by a U.S. citizen or green card holder that shows a qualifying family relationship with a relative. This page explains how the process works, what our practice covers, and what affects the timeline. Adriana Gomez is the lawyer responsible for this page.<\/p>\n\n

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If your spouse, child, parent or sibling needs a petition and you're not sure which filing fits, our team can review your situation in a paid consultation. Talk it through with our team — we can walk you through how a situation like yours is usually handled and what your options are.<\/p>

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What a family petition is and who it is for<\/h2>\n

A family petition is the first step toward a green card for a relative. The petitioner is the U.S. citizen or green card holder who files, or, in certain cases, a widow or widower of a U.S. citizen or a spouse or child of an abusive citizen or lawful permanent resident who self-petitions. The beneficiary is the relative the petition is for.<\/p>\n

Petitions can also cover children, parents and other relatives (8 C.F.R. \u00a7 204.1<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Immediate relatives are the children, spouses and parents of a U.S. citizen. Under 8 U.S.C. \u00a7 1151<\/a>, the term “immediate relatives” includes the parents of a citizen of the United States, except that, in the case of parents, such citizens shall be at least 21 years of age. Those categories have their own limits and waits.<\/p>\n

USCIS approves a family petition when it determines that the facts stated in the petition are true and that the relative qualifies for the classification requested.<\/p>\n

The petition is only the first step. The relative may then seek a green card from inside the U.S. through adjustment of status, or from abroad through consular processing. Which route applies turns on where the relative is and his or her immigration history.<\/p>\n

What our family petitions practice covers<\/h2>\n

Our family petitions practice covers the filing and the steps that follow it. It focuses on these areas:<\/p>\n