Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Tampa, Florida

For many immigrants, the path to legal status in the United States runs through family. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can sponsor certain relatives to come to the United States or to obtain permanent residence here. The process involves multiple agencies, significant paperwork, strict eligibility rules, and timelines that can stretch from months to years depending on the category and the country of origin.

Mora Immigration Group represents families throughout Tampa Bay, across Florida, and nationwide with all aspects of family-based immigration, from the initial petition through the final green card or visa approval.

Who Can Be Sponsored

The family members eligible for sponsorship depend on whether the petitioner is a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident (green card holder).

U.S. citizens can petition for:

  • Spouses

  • Unmarried children under 21

  • Unmarried adult sons and daughters (21 and older)

  • Married sons and daughters of any age

  • Siblings (if the U.S. citizen is at least 21)

  • Parents (if the U.S. citizen is at least 21)

Lawful permanent residents can petition for:

  • Spouses

  • Unmarried children under 21

  • Unmarried adult sons and daughters (21 and older)

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, which includes spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents, are not subject to annual visa caps and generally move through the process faster than other family preference categories. All other categories are subject to per-country limits and annual caps, which means wait times vary significantly depending on the beneficiary's country of birth and the specific category.

The Family-Based Immigration Process

Family-based cases typically involve two or three stages depending on where the beneficiary is located.

Step 1: Filing the Petition (Form I-130) The U.S. citizen or LPR petitioner files Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with USCIS to establish the qualifying family relationship. This petition must be supported by evidence of the relationship, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or other documentation.

Step 2: Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing Once the petition is approved and a visa number is available, the beneficiary applies for permanent residence either through Adjustment of Status (if they are already in the United States) or through Consular Processing (if they are abroad and will complete their immigrant visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate).

Adjustment of Status involves filing Form I-485 along with medical examination results, supporting documents, and applicable fees. For Tampa-area applicants, this process typically includes a biometrics appointment at the Tampa USCIS Application Support Center and an in-person interview at the Tampa Field Office. Attorney Miguel Mora provides in-person representation at USCIS interviews at the Tampa Field Office.

Consular Processing is used when the beneficiary is outside the United States. After USCIS approves the petition and the National Visa Center completes its processing, the case is transferred to the appropriate U.S. embassy or consulate for an immigrant visa interview abroad.

Marriage-Based Green Cards

Marriage to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is one of the most common pathways to permanent residence. We represent both spouses who are adjusting status inside the United States and those going through consular processing abroad.

Marriage-based cases require thorough documentation of the bona fide nature of the relationship. USCIS scrutinizes these cases carefully. Evidence such as joint financial accounts, lease agreements, photographs, correspondence, and affidavits from people who know the couple all play a role. We help clients build a complete and credible evidentiary package from the start, which reduces the likelihood of Requests for Evidence and prepares you for the interview.

For conditional residents married less than two years at the time of approval, we also assist with the Form I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, which must be filed within the 90-day window before the two-year conditional green card expires.

K-1 Fiancé Visas

U.S. citizens who are engaged to a foreign national can bring their fiancé to the United States on a K-1 visa to get married here. The couple must marry within 90 days of the fiancé's entry, after which the foreign national can apply for adjustment of status. We assist with the full K-1 process from petition through adjustment of status after the marriage.

What We Help With

  • Form I-130 petitions for all qualifying family categories

  • Adjustment of status for beneficiaries inside the United States

  • In-person representation at Tampa Field Office interviews

  • Consular processing for beneficiaries abroad

  • Marriage-based green cards and bona fide marriage evidence packages

  • K-1 fiancé visas

  • Form I-751 petitions to remove conditions on residence

  • Responding to Requests for Evidence (RFEs)

  • Priority date monitoring and visa bulletin tracking

  • Cases involving complex histories, prior removals, or other complications

Tampa-Area Family Immigration Clients

If you are in Tampa, Hillsborough County, or the surrounding area, your USCIS case will typically be handled through the Tampa Field Office for interviews and the Tampa Application Support Center for biometrics. We know these offices, their procedures, and what officers in this district focus on during interviews. That local familiarity matters when we are preparing you for your appointment.

Every Family Situation Is Different

Family-based immigration is rarely straightforward. Prior immigration violations, criminal history, previous removal orders, prior marriages, or complex family circumstances can all affect eligibility and strategy. We review your full history before any filing so there are no surprises, and we advise you honestly on your options and the risks involved.

Schedule your free 30-minute phone consultation at immigrationtampa.com/book, call (813) 815-VISA, or email miguel@mig.law. Hablamos español.