I-130 Family Petition Attorney in San Antonio, Texas
Family Petitions
Form I-130: The First Step to Bringing Your Family to the United States
Almost every family-based green card begins with the same document: Form I-130, the Petition for Alien Relative. It is how a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident tells the government, this person is my family and I want to sponsor them. The form looks simple. What is not simple is proving the relationship, choosing the correct category, and understanding how long the wait will be, and those are exactly the places where a rushed I-130 goes wrong.
At Lozano Law Firm, family petitions are prepared under the direction of Alfredo Lozano, one of the few Texas attorneys Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law. Our bilingual team files I-130 petitions for families across San Antonio, Eagle Pass, and San Angelo, and we connect every petition to the larger goal, whether that is adjustment of status inside the United States or consular processing abroad. Start with a free consultation to map your family's path.
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Who Can File Form I-130, and for Whom
Not everyone can petition for every relative. The I-130 splits into two very different worlds, and knowing which one your case falls into tells you almost everything about how long it will take.
Immediate Relatives (No Waiting Line)
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens always have a visa available, so there is no annual quota and no backlog for the visa itself. This category covers the spouse of a U.S. citizen, the unmarried child under 21 of a U.S. citizen, and the parent of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old. These are the fastest family cases, and for a spouse already living in the United States after a lawful entry, the I-130 can often be filed together with the green card application.
Family Preference Categories (Subject to a Wait)
Everyone else falls into a preference category with a limited number of visas each year, which means a wait governed by your priority date and the monthly Visa Bulletin. The first preference (F1) is for unmarried adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. The 2A category covers spouses and unmarried children under 21 of permanent residents, and 2B covers their unmarried adult children. The third preference (F3) is for married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and the fourth (F4) is for the brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens. Permanent residents cannot petition for parents, siblings, or married children, a limit that surprises many families and is one more reason to get advice before filing.
Documents You Will Need
A clean I-130 stands on its evidence. Most petitions require proof of the petitioner's status, such as a U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or green card, along with primary proof of the qualifying relationship. For a marriage case that means the marriage certificate plus evidence the marriage is real, including joint finances, a shared lease, insurance, and photographs. For a parent or child case it means birth certificates that connect the two of you. Foreign documents usually need certified English translations, and names that do not match across documents need to be explained.
Common I-130 Mistakes We See
Families lose months to a handful of avoidable errors. Filing under the wrong category, or assuming a permanent resident can petition a parent, forces a restart. Thin relationship evidence in a marriage case invites a Request for Evidence or a fraud interview. Some petitioners forget that a separate I-130 is required for each relative, and that minor children are not automatically included on a spouse's petition. We catch these before filing, not after a denial.
Our Process
What to Expect
Free Case Evaluation
We start with a no-cost consultation to review your situation, explain your options, and identify the strongest path forward for your family.
Case Preparation
Our team assembles your petition with the documentation and evidence USCIS expects, prepared accurately the first time to avoid delays.
Filing & Follow-Through
We file, track deadlines, respond to USCIS, and prepare you for every interview until your case is resolved.
The I-130 Process and Timeline
The petition itself is a beginning, not an end. Filing the I-130 asks USCIS to recognize the family relationship. It does not, by itself, grant any status, and it is important to understand that before you plan around it.
After filing, USCIS issues a receipt notice, reviews the petition, and either approves it or asks for more evidence. Processing times vary and change often, so we check current estimates on the official USCIS processing times tool rather than promising a date. Once approved, the road forks. Immediate relatives who entered lawfully and are already here can move to adjustment of status. Relatives abroad, and most preference cases, move to the National Visa Center and then to consular processing, often at the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez for our Mexican-national clients. In preference categories, the priority date set on the day we file controls when a visa becomes available, which is why filing sooner rather than later genuinely matters.
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Hire a Board-Certified Immigration Attorney
Fewer than five percent of Texas immigration attorneys are Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Attorney Alfredo Lozano holds that distinction, and since founding the firm in 2006 he has brought a Marine Corps veteran's discipline, more than 20 years of immigration experience, and a fully bilingual team to every case the firm handles.
Our approach combines personalized counsel with the documentation rigor these cases demand, so your petition is prepared correctly the first time. Board Certification means the state has independently verified his experience, tested his knowledge, and confirmed his standing among peers, which is the kind of assurance that matters when your family's future is on the line.
Meet
Our Team
Our team includes experienced attorneys, legal professionals, and client-care specialists who share a common commitment: making the immigration process as clear and manageable as possible for every family we serve.
Alfredo Lozano
Managing Attorney
Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law and a Marine Corps veteran who leads every case strategy.
Linda Hamilton
Attorney
Guides families and employers through petitions, waivers, and interviews with steady, detailed advocacy.
Minerva Gonzalez
Legal Assistant
Prepares documentation and keeps every case organized, accurate, and moving forward.
Mayra Juarez
Legal Administrator
Coordinates case management and client communication across our three Texas offices.
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How to Obtain Residency If You Are in the U.S. Illegally
Entering the country without inspection does not always close the door to a green card. Our free guide walks through the options that may apply, from Section 245(i) and Military Parole in Place to the I-601A provisional waiver, in plain language.
Download the guide to understand the paths that could be available to your family, then contact us for advice on your specific situation.
Family Petitions in San Antonio, Eagle Pass, and San Angelo
We file I-130 petitions for families throughout South and West Texas, in English and Spanish. For border families in Eagle Pass and Maverick County with relatives in Mexico, we regularly weigh whether a case should finish through adjustment of status or through the consulate in Ciudad Juarez, a choice with real consequences. For families near San Antonio and San Angelo, we keep the petition connected to the next step so there is no gap between approval and the green card. Every case begins with a free, no-obligation consultation.
REQUEST A CONSULTATION
Request Your Free Consultation
Tell us about your family's situation and our bilingual team will reach out to schedule your free case evaluation.
I-130 Family Petition FAQs
How long does an I-130 petition take?
It depends heavily on the category and the relationship. Immediate relative petitions for spouses, parents, and young children of U.S. citizens are the fastest because a visa is always available. Preference category cases can take years because of annual limits and priority-date backlogs. Because USCIS times change frequently, we give you a realistic estimate for your specific category rather than a single number.
Can I file the I-130 and the green card application at the same time?
Often, yes, but only for immediate relatives who are already in the United States after a lawful entry. In that situation the I-130 and the Form I-485 green card application can be filed together, which is called concurrent filing. Preference category applicants and relatives who are abroad cannot do this and must wait for the priority date and then process the green card separately.
Do I need a separate I-130 for each family member?
Yes. You file one I-130 for each relative you are sponsoring. Minor children are not automatically included on a spouse's petition, although in some preference categories children can follow along as derivatives when the case is processed. Getting this right at the start avoids gaps that can separate a family later.
Can a green card holder file an I-130 for a spouse?
Yes. Lawful permanent residents can petition for a spouse and for unmarried children in the 2A and 2B preference categories. They cannot petition for parents, siblings, or married children. Many permanent residents choose to file for a spouse now and, once they naturalize, upgrade the case to the faster immediate relative category.
What is a priority date?
Your priority date is the day USCIS receives your I-130, and in preference categories it is your place in line. Each month the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows which priority dates have reached the front of the line and can move forward. This is why filing early matters, because your date is locked in even while you wait.
What happens after my I-130 is approved?
Approval confirms the relationship but does not grant status on its own. If your relative is an immediate relative already in the United States, the next step is usually adjustment of status. Otherwise the case moves to the National Visa Center and then to a U.S. consulate for an immigrant visa interview. We stay with you through that next step so nothing falls through the cracks.
Lozano Law Firm
Cases We Do Not Handle
Lozano Law Firm focuses exclusively on the practice areas listed above. We do not handle asylum or criminal immigration cases. When clients come to us with needs outside our scope, we refer them to trusted colleagues who specialize in those areas. Our referral network includes attorneys who handle asylum claims and criminal immigration consequences, so every person who contacts us receives direction toward the right help.
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Start Your Journey Today
Immigration goals should not wait. Whether you are exploring your options for the first time or ready to move forward with a case, our team is here to help. Contact Lozano Law Firm for a free case evaluation and let us put our Board-Certified expertise to work for you.
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