U.S. Family Immigration Lawyers Involving Adopted Children
Otto Swanson, founder of Swanson & Swanson, a Los Angeles, California, immigration law firm, has exclusively devoted himself to matters of immigration law since 1954, including family based immigration involving an adopted child. His first exposure to immigration law was with the Immigration Service. Later, he began the practice of law as an attorney helping immigrants with the immigration process — a service Otto and the firm continue to this day.
For additional information about our team or the benefits of retaining our services, please visit those pages or contact us.
To speak to a knowledgeable immigration attorney about a family immigration matter involving an adopted child or adopted children, or to discuss your particular situation, call 310-694-5914.
Family Immigration: Permanent Residency for an Adopted Child
United States citizens and permanent residents can secure permanent resident status on behalf of their adopted children. To do so the following conditions must be met:
- The child must have been adopted by the United States citizen or permanent resident by the child's 16th birthday;
- The adoptive parent(s) must accumulate at least two years of "legal custody"; and
- The adoptive parent(s) and child must reside together for at least two years.
Legal custody is generally acquired as a result of the adoption, however if the adopting parent(s) were previously awarded custody by court order, then the period of time which has elapsed since then may be counted.
Once the foregoing preliminary conditions have been met an adoptive parent is entitled to apply to immigrate the child. (See, Family Based Immigration)
Citizenship through Parentage may thereafter be automatic or at least available upon application of a parent depending upon the attendant circumstances.
For additional information about family based immigration and adopted children, or to discuss your immigration and naturalization matter with an experienced attorney, please contact us. We have helped generations of families, and we want to help you.
