Pennsylvania parents can likely imagine how stressful it would be to endure long separations from their children. Many military parents know what this is like, especially if called to active duty overseas. Parents navigating the family immigration process also often have periods of time where some family members are already in the United States while others remain in their countries of origin. In some cases, a K-4 visa can help parents reunite with their children.
A K-4 visa is a temporary legal status that allows a child to be brought to the U.S. to reside with his or her parent while awaiting permanent visa processing. As with most immigrant application processes, there are various forms and fees involved, in addition to eligibility requirements that must first be met to qualify for an application. It’s often helpful for a parent to seek assistance from an experienced immigration attorney rather than try to address such issues alone.
The main factor of eligibility for a K-4 visa is that the child’s parent must already be a K-3 visa holder. The K-3 visa is granted to non-immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens. It too is a temporary visa. Only children who are under age 21 or unmarried are eligible for K-4 visas.
At the end of two years or when a child turns 21, the K-4 visa expires. Family immigration processes can be quite daunting. A mistake may cause delays or entirely prevent a loved one from coming to the country. By turning to an experienced Pennsylvania attorney for support, the process may be less stressful for those involved.
Source: workpermit.com, “Bringing your children to the US“, Accessed on Jan. 21, 2018