Brooklyn Family Immigration Lawyers

Last Updated on: 11th October 2025, 11:05 am

Brooklyn Family Immigration Lawyers

Thanks for visiting Spodek Law Group – a second-generation law firm managed by Todd Spodek. We have over 50 years of combined experience helping Brooklyn families reunite through family-based immigration. Our immigration attorneys have handled thousands of family petition cases since 1976, bringing spouses, children, parents, and siblings to the United States. You know our work – we represented Anna Delvey in the case that became a Netflix series.

If you’re sponsoring a family member in Brooklyn in 2025, you’re navigating backlogs, priority dates, per-country limits. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens – spouses, unmarried children under 21, parents – have no waiting list. Everyone else faces years of waiting. F4 category (siblings of U.S. citizens) currently has 15+ year wait. Brooklyn’s immigrant communities – particularly Chinese, Mexican, Caribbean – face the longest backlogs due to per-country limits.

You need Brooklyn family immigration lawyers who understand the preference categories, who can navigate priority dates, who prepare families for the long process ahead.

Family-Based Immigration Categories

Family-based immigration has two tracks:

Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens (No Cap)

– Spouses of U.S. citizens

– Unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens

– Parents of U.S. citizens (if citizen is 21+)

No annual cap, no waiting list. File I-130, wait for approval (12-18 months), then I-485 adjustment or consular processing. Total timeline: 18-36 months typically.

Family Preference Categories (Capped)

– F1: Unmarried adult children (21+) of U.S. citizens – 7+ years

– F2A: Spouses and children of permanent residents – 2+ years

– F2B: Unmarried adult children of permanent residents – 7+ years

– F3: Married children of U.S. citizens – 12+ years

– F4: Siblings of U.S. citizens (if citizen is 21+) – 15+ years

These categories are subject to annual caps (480,000 total) and per-country limits (7% per country). High-demand countries face longer waits.

Our Brooklyn family immigration attorneys help families understand which category applies, what the wait time will be, whether strategies exist to reduce waiting.

Priority Dates – Understanding the Wait

For preference categories, your priority date determines when you can immigrate. Priority date is the date USCIS receives your I-130 petition. Each month, Department of State publishes Visa Bulletin showing which priority dates are “current” – meaning visa numbers are available.

Example: If you file I-130 in F2A category in January 2025, your priority date is January 2025. You must wait until Visa Bulletin shows F2A dates reaching January 2025 – currently about 2 years. For countries with backlogs (Mexico, Philippines, China, India), waits are longer.

Brooklyn’s large Chinese community faces severe backlogs. Chinese nationals in F1 category wait 15+ years. Mexican nationals in F2B category wait 10+ years.

Our Brooklyn immigration lawyers monitor Visa Bulletin monthly. We notify clients when priority dates approach. We file adjustment applications or DS-260 forms at optimal time.

Marriage-Based Immigration in Brooklyn

Marriage to U.S. citizen is most common family immigration pathway in Brooklyn. Neighborhoods like Brighton Beach, Sunset Park, Bensonhurst have high rates of marriage petitions – which triggers USCIS scrutiny.

Process:

1. U.S. citizen files I-130 petition for spouse

2. If spouse is in U.S., file I-485 adjustment concurrently

3. If spouse is abroad, consular processing after I-130 approval

4. Interview at USCIS (adjustment) or embassy (consular)

5. If married less than 2 years, receive conditional green card (2-year)

6. File I-751 to remove conditions before 2-year anniversary

USCIS scrutinizes marriage cases for fraud. Red flags include: age differences, language barriers, marriage shortly after deportation order, large age gap, cultural differences, quick marriage.

Our Brooklyn family immigration lawyers prepare couples for marriage interviews. We gather evidence of bona fide marriage – joint finances, lease agreements, photos, affidavits from friends and family who know the relationship.

The Marriage Interview – What USCIS Asks

Marriage interviews at Brooklyn USCIS office are detailed. Officers ask both spouses questions – separately or together – about:

– How and when you met

– Dating history and timeline

– Wedding details (location, guests, honeymoon)

– Daily routines (who wakes up first, morning routines, bedtime)

– Living arrangements (bedroom description, furniture, décor)

– Finances (who pays bills, bank accounts, major purchases)

– Future plans (children, home purchase)

Inconsistent answers raise fraud concerns. Officers compare answers looking for discrepancies. Major inconsistencies can lead to denial or fraud investigation.

Our Brooklyn immigration attorneys conduct mock interviews. We prepare clients for every question. We identify potential inconsistencies before the interview.

Bringing Parents to Brooklyn

U.S. citizens 21+ can sponsor parents for immediate relative green cards. No waiting list. Process:

1. File I-130 for each parent

2. After approval, file I-485 (if parent in U.S.) or consular processing

3. File I-864 Affidavit of Support proving income above poverty guidelines

4. Interview and approval

Timeline: 18-30 months typically.

Challenges: If parent entered illegally, I-485 may not be available (no adjustment for people who entered without inspection, unless 245(i) applies). Alternative: consular processing, but 10-year bar applies if parent had unlawful presence 1+ year.

Our Brooklyn family immigration lawyers analyze whether parents can adjust in U.S. or must do consular processing. We identify waivers for unlawful presence bars.

Sponsoring Siblings – The F4 Category

U.S. citizens can sponsor siblings through F4 category. Longest wait of all family categories – currently 15+ years. For Philippines nationals, 23+ years.

Despite long wait, many Brooklyn residents file F4 petitions to establish priority date. Even though approval is years away, having petition on file preserves their place in line.

Strategy: File F4 petition now, even though approval is years away. If sibling’s child turns 21 before visa available, they “age out” and lose eligibility. Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) provides limited relief.

Our Brooklyn family immigration attorneys advise clients on F4 timing. We calculate CSPA age to determine if children will age out.

Income Requirements – I-864 Affidavit of Support

All family-based cases require sponsor to file I-864 Affidavit of Support proving income at 125% of poverty guidelines. For household of 2 in 2025: $26,438. For household of 4: $40,050.

If sponsor doesn’t meet income requirement, options exist:

– Joint sponsor (someone else who meets income requirement)

– Household member’s income (if they live with sponsor)

– Assets (count as 1/5 of value toward income requirement, or 1/3 for spouse sponsorship)

Our Brooklyn immigration lawyers help sponsors meet income requirements. We identify joint sponsors, calculate asset values, structure households to include qualifying income.

Family Immigration Services We Provide in Brooklyn

I-130 Petitions – For all family relationships

Marriage Green Cards – Interview prep, evidence gathering, fraud defense

I-751 Removal of Conditions – For conditional residents

I-864 Affidavit of Support – Joint sponsors, asset calculations

Consular Processing – DS-260, NVC stage, embassy interviews

Adjustment of Status – I-485 applications

CSPA Analysis – Protecting children from aging out

Why Spodek Law Group for Brooklyn Family Immigration

We pride ourselves on having a rock star team of attorneys who have over 50 years of combined experience. We’ve reunited thousands of Brooklyn families.

In 2022, Netflix released a series about one of Todd’s clients: Anna Delvey. Our firm has been featured on NY Post, Newsweek, Fox 5, Business Insider, Bloomberg, USA Today, and the New York Times.

We’re available 24/7. Our managing partner, Todd Spodek, is a seasoned attorney – who has many, many, years of experience. Regardless of how complicated your case is – we can help you.

Call Spodek Law Group today. Brooklyn family immigration requires understanding backlogs and local USCIS procedures – you need the best Brooklyn family immigration lawyers reuniting your family.