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Boynton Beach · Lake Worth · Atlanta
+1 (888) 353-8307THE FULL SPECTRUM
Twelve practice areas. One firm.
From the first marriage visa to the appellate brief, our attorneys cover the entire path.
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Schedule a consultation →FAMILY & MARRIAGE IMMIGRATION
Keeping families in the same country.
Almost every immigration story starts here. A US citizen wants to bring a spouse home. A green card holder is petitioning for a child. A fiancé is waiting on the other side of a K-1 visa. As a family visa lawyer, our job is to move your loved ones through a system that is slow, document-heavy, and unforgiving of small mistakes, and to do it in the language you actually speak. We handle marriage-based green cards, K-1 fiancé visas, parent, child, and sibling petitions, and removal of conditions, from our offices in Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, and Atlanta.
THE BASICS
Family-based immigration runs on relationships. US immigration law lets certain relatives of US citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) petition to bring them to the United States, and the closeness of the relationship decides how fast that can happen.
The system divides family members into two groups. Immediate relatives of US citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents) have no annual cap and no waiting line for a visa number, which usually makes their cases the fastest. Everyone else falls into the "family preference" categories, which have yearly limits and, for some relationships and countries, long waits. Where your relative sits in that structure changes the entire strategy, and it is the first thing we map out with you.
MARRIAGE GREEN CARDS
Marriage to a US citizen or lawful permanent resident is one of the most common paths to a green card, and one of the most heavily scrutinized. As a marriage green card lawyer, most of our work is not filling in the forms; it is proving that the marriage is real, that the couple qualifies, and that nothing in either spouse's history quietly sinks the case.
If you are married to a US citizen, your spouse files an I-130 petition and, if you are already in the United States in a qualifying status, you can often apply for your green card at the same time through adjustment of status. If you are married to a green card holder, the path is similar but subject to annual limits, so timing matters more. Either way, the couple will face an interview, and the difference between a smooth approval and a request for more evidence is usually the quality of the file you walk in with.
Immediate-relative category. No annual cap. If you entered lawfully and are in the US, adjustment of status often runs concurrently with the I-130. Consular processing abroad is the route when you are outside the country.
Family second-preference category. Subject to annual limits and visa-number availability. The petition still starts with an I-130; the wait depends on the current Visa Bulletin.
FIANCÉ VISAS
When a US citizen is engaged to someone living abroad and the couple plans to marry in the United States, the K-1 fiancé visa is the usual route. It lets the foreign fiancé enter the country, after which the couple must marry within 90 days and then apply for the green card through adjustment of status.
A K-1 case has moving parts that trip people up. The couple generally must have met in person within the two years before filing, unless a narrow exception applies. The petition has to establish a genuine intent to marry, not just a relationship. And because a K-1 leads straight into a green card application, the smart approach is to build the fiancé case with the eventual green card in mind, so the two stages line up instead of fighting each other. As a k-1 fiancé visa lawyer, that is exactly how we structure these from the start.
BEYOND THE SPOUSE
Family immigration is not only about marriage. US citizens who are at least 21 can petition for their parents as immediate relatives, usually one of the faster family cases. Both citizens and green card holders can petition for their children, with the speed depending on the child's age, marital status, and whether the petitioner is a citizen or a resident.
Siblings are the longest road. Only US citizens can petition for a brother or sister, and those cases sit in the family fourth-preference category, which carries some of the longest waits in the entire system. That does not make them not worth filing. A petition filed today holds a place in line that can matter enormously years from now. A family immigration attorney's real value in these cases is honest expectation-setting: telling you which petitions move quickly, which are a long-term investment, and how to protect a child from "aging out" of a category before their number comes up.
CONDITIONAL GREEN CARDS
If you got your marriage-based green card less than two years after the marriage, it is a conditional green card, valid for two years instead of ten. Before it expires, the couple generally must file Form I-751 to remove those conditions and prove, again, that the marriage was entered in good faith. Miss the window or file a weak petition, and a person who is already a permanent resident can be pushed back toward removal proceedings.
This is where a lot of couples underestimate the risk. Life happens between the first green card and the I-751: people move, have children, sometimes separate or divorce. There are waivers that let a divorced spouse, or a spouse who suffered abuse, still remove conditions on their own. Handling removal of conditions (I-751) well means anticipating the questions USCIS will ask about the last two years and answering them before they are asked.
File I-751 in the 90 days before your two-year conditional green card expires. A missed deadline can put your residency at risk. Talk to us well before the card lapses.
WHERE CASES GET HARD
Most family cases are approvable. What separates a clean approval from months of delay, or a denial, is usually one of a handful of recurring complications. These are the ones we plan around from the first meeting.
The petitioner has to show enough income to support the immigrant, or find a qualifying joint sponsor. We build the affidavit of support so it holds up the first time.
USCIS wants proof that every earlier marriage legally ended. Foreign divorce records, name changes, and translations are a frequent source of delay.
An overstay, a prior removal order, or an unlawful entry can change everything, sometimes triggering the need for a waiver. This has to be spotted early, not at the interview.
A past finding of marriage fraud or a misrepresentation on an earlier application is one of the most serious problems in family immigration, and it does not go away on its own. These cases need experienced counsel.
Certain offenses by the petitioner or the immigrant can affect eligibility or admissibility. We review both sides' records before filing, not after.
Nervous couples, language barriers, and hostile questioning derail otherwise valid cases. Preparing you for the interview is part of the representation, not an add-on.
WHY DELGADO PURDY LAW
Family immigration is personal, and it should be handled by someone who can talk to you and your relatives directly, not through a translation service. Between our two founding attorneys, we work in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, including native Brazilian Portuguese that almost no other firm in Palm Beach immigration offers. When your mother, your fiancé, or your spouse needs to explain something at an interview, that matters.
You also get an experienced immigration attorney on your case. You will not be handed to a paralegal with an attorney reviewing at the end; one of our attorneys handles your file, your interview prep, and your questions. We have guided hundreds of families through marriage green cards, fiancé visas, and naturalization, and we serve clients from three offices across Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, and Metro Atlanta.
CLIENT REVIEWS
Real Google reviews from our Boynton Beach and Lake Worth offices, including families who came to us after another lawyer had already tried. Every card links back to the profile it came from, so you can check any of it yourself.
“Thais is an amazing lawyer and person, and because she’s Brazilian too, our communication was great! During the process she was always there to answer the questions about my immigration process in minutes! She really helped me and clarified everything when I needed. I highly recommend her!”
Deborah Z.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil · Boynton Beach
“Delgado Law Group has done a great job on my family’s immigration case. They have been much more professional and productive than our prior legal team. We really appreciate their support.”
Haydee Cedeño
7 months ago · Lake Worth
“Thais was awesome and has great communication. I was having trouble getting my wife’s visa with another lawyer. Thais stepped in and got it done right away. She made our case a priority and I highly recommend hiring her. She turned our stressful situation into an easy one.”
David R.
Honolulu, HI · Boynton Beach
“Amazing job on my case! Amazing service overall! Jackie knows her stuff and will fight hard for you and your case! I am satisfied and would highly recommend! Thank you Jackie and her office for everything.”
Mimi M.
a year ago · Lake Worth
“After two frustrating experiences with other lawyers here in Florida, we finally found someone who would give us all the legal and emotional support to face this difficult and long-awaited dream. Thais Arsolino helped us overcome the fears and challenges of our EB-3. She guided our process from start to finish with dedication. Thank you for being a fundamental part of this achievement for our family!”
Bruna Loyola
Florida · Boynton Beach
Translated from Portuguese.
Verify on Google, Boynton Beach profile“Ms. Delgado is the best lawyer ever. Helped my whole family and can’t thank her enough. God bless Ms. Delgado and her whole crew.”
Manuel Francisco
10 months ago · Lake Worth
“I would recommend this law office over any other in the South Florida area. The care and attention I have received here is unlike any other. When you call, you get to speak with the actual attorney, not an assistant or paralegal.”
Ryan B.
Miami, FL · Boynton Beach
“Thais was always available for my calls and messages. I was surprised at how quickly she and her staff responded to my concerns. I’m happy to say that my case is now over and I can move on with my life.”
Maria F.
Jupiter, FL · Boynton Beach
“No words for the professionalism. I recommend Purdy to everyone. I especially thank Thais, an undisputed professional.”
Lailson Lesbao
Brazil · Boynton Beach
Translated from Portuguese.
Verify on Google, Boynton Beach profileThese are real reviews from real clients, published with their permission. Every immigration case turns on its own facts. A prospective client may not obtain the same or similar results.
FAMILY IMMIGRATION FAQS
For the spouse of a US citizen already living in the United States, a marriage-based green card through adjustment of status commonly runs about 12 to 18 months from filing to the interview, though it varies by field office. For the spouse of a green card holder, or for cases processed at a consulate abroad, the timeline can be longer because of annual visa limits. We give you a realistic timeline for your specific facts at the consultation.
A K-1 visa is for a foreign fiancé who is still abroad and plans to marry a US citizen in the United States; the couple marries within 90 days of entry and then applies for the green card. A marriage green card is for couples who are already married. If you are already married, you generally do not use a K-1. You file directly for the green card. Which path fits depends on where your partner is and whether you are married yet.
Not necessarily. If you are engaged and your partner is abroad, the K-1 fiancé visa lets them come to the United States to marry you. If you are already married, you skip the fiancé stage and file for the green card directly. Either way, you can begin planning and gathering documents before anything is filed, which almost always makes the case stronger.
Possibly, but this is exactly the kind of fact that changes the strategy, so do not assume the case is hopeless, or that it is simple. An unlawful entry, an overstay, or a prior removal order can affect whether your spouse can adjust status inside the US or must process abroad, and can sometimes require a waiver. This is one of the most important things to review with an attorney before you file anything, because the wrong first move can create a problem that did not have to exist.
If your marriage was less than two years old when you got your green card, it is a conditional green card valid for two years. You file Form I-751 to remove those conditions in the 90 days before it expires, proving the marriage was entered in good faith. If you have divorced or experienced abuse, waivers may let you file on your own. Missing the deadline can jeopardize your residency, so calendar it early and start gathering evidence well ahead of time.
Yes. A US citizen who is at least 21 can petition for their parents, and because parents of adult citizens are "immediate relatives," these are usually among the faster family cases with no annual cap. Green card holders cannot petition for parents. If your parents are abroad, the case processes through a US consulate; if they are lawfully in the United States in a qualifying situation, adjustment of status may be possible.
Sibling cases are the longest in the family system. Only US citizens can petition for a brother or sister, and these fall into the family fourth-preference category, which has some of the longest backlogs of any immigration category, often many years. Filing still matters, because the petition holds your sibling's place in line from the day it is filed. We will tell you honestly what the current wait looks like and whether it makes sense for your situation.
Family and marriage cases are usually handled as a flat legal fee within a defined range, separate from the government filing fees, so you know the cost up front rather than watching an hourly meter. The exact figure depends on the type of case and any complications, such as a prior overstay or a waiver. We quote a real number at the consultation once we have seen your situation. A 30-minute consultation is $100 by phone or video, or $250 in person, and if you retain us, that fee is credited to your case.
RELATED PRACTICE AREAS
KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER
Schedule a consultation and we will look at your family's situation, tell you which petition fits, and give you the real timeline and the real cost before you commit to anything. We will do it in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French.
