Allentown · Pennsylvania · Nationwide
Family Immigration Lawyer in Allentown, PA
Legal guidance for spouses, parents, children, and fiancé(e)s—built around your family, immigration history, and safest available path.
An approved family petition does not by itself grant status. Before filing, traveling, or leaving the United States, it is important to understand the full route and any risk factors.
Start with the route
Where your relative is—and how they entered—can change the process.
Family immigration is not one form. The relationship, petitioner's status, visa availability, entry history, and current location all matter.
Adjustment of status
Some relatives may be able to apply for permanent residence with USCIS from inside the country. Eligibility depends on the category and the person's complete history.
Learn about adjustment →Consular processing
After petition approval, many cases move through the National Visa Center before an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Learn about consular processing →K-1 fiancé(e) visa
A K-1 may be an option for a foreign-citizen fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen. The couple must marry within 90 days after entry before applying to adjust status.
Check which route to discuss →Important: Location alone does not decide eligibility. Entry without inspection, prior removal, unlawful presence, fraud or misrepresentation, criminal history, and immigration-court proceedings can materially change the analysis.
Side by side
Adjustment of status vs. consular processing.
Both routes can end in permanent residence. They differ in where the case is decided, what the family can do while it is pending, and which risks need review before anything is filed.
Adjustment of status
Form I-485 · decided by USCIS
- Where the relative is
- Inside the United States
- Interview
- At a USCIS field office, when one is scheduled
- While it is pending
- Work authorization and advance parole may be requested with the application; the family stays together during the wait
- Main risk to review first
- Adjustment bars tied to entry and status; departure without advance parole can cause USCIS to treat the case as abandoned
Consular processing
Form DS-260 · decided abroad
- Where the relative is
- Outside the United States
- Interview
- At the assigned U.S. embassy or consulate, after National Visa Center processing
- While it is pending
- No U.S. work permit through this route; the relative waits abroad until the visa is issued
- Main risk to review first
- Grounds of inadmissibility found at the interview, including unlawful-presence bars that may require a waiver
Which route is available is a legal question, not a preference. For some families only one route is open; for others the choice carries real consequences for travel and timing.
How we help
A careful plan from first question to final decision.
We connect the legal strategy, evidence, forms, and interview preparation so your case tells one consistent story.
Family petitions
I-130 petitions for qualifying spouses and family members, with relationship evidence organized from the start.
Adjustment of status
I-485 strategy, supporting applications, financial sponsorship, evidence review, and interview preparation when adjustment is available.
Consular cases
NVC document preparation, DS-260 review, civil documents, financial evidence, and consular interview planning.
Conditional residence
I-751 joint filings and individual filing requests or waivers, with evidence tailored to the facts and applicable filing rules.
Risk and waiver review
Early analysis of unlawful presence, past entries, prior denials, removal history, or other facts that may affect the route.
RFEs and interviews
Focused responses to evidence requests and preparation that helps family members answer accurately and consistently.
Who you will work with
The attorney reads your file, not a summary of it.
J. Alexander Short founded Lehigh Valley Immigration Law to handle family cases the way they should be handled: one attorney who knows the whole history, a plan made before anything is filed, and answers in the language the family speaks at home.
- Admitted in Pennsylvania · Attorney ID 328905
- Practice limited to immigration law · practicing since 2020
- Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
- Consultations in English and Spanish, in person or by video
What families say
We had an excellent experience working with Alex on our spousal immigration application. From the very beginning, he walked us through every step of the process, making sure we understood what was happening and what to expect. His knowledge, professionalism, and attention to detail helped our case move forward smoothly with no delays or setbacks. Alex stayed on top of everything and saw our application through to fruition. What could have been a stressful and overwhelming process was made so much easier because of his guidance and support. We are truly grateful for everything Alex did and highly recommend him to anyone needing help with a spousal immigration case.
We are so grateful to this firm and especially to attorney J. Alexander Short. His thoughtful and strategic approach to our case actually ended up saving us money throughout the green card process. From the beginning, it was clear that he put his clients’ best interests first rather than simply pursuing a bigger paycheck, as we felt some other firms were doing by quoting us much higher fees and creating unnecessary fear.
J. Alexander Short was attentive, thorough, and incredibly supportive. We never felt alone or uncertain throughout the process because he was always there to guide us and explain what was happening.
He will absolutely be our go-to attorney for any immigration matters in the future. We trust that he genuinely cares about his clients, knows the law, and recommends what is truly best for them. We couldn’t be happier with the service we received and highly recommend him and his firm.
I can't even begin to recommend Alex enough!! He is so kind, knowledgeable, and flexible with taking us on last minute-- especially when there were extremely last minute things happening in our case and we were in need of guidance on how to proceed.
We initially stumbled upon LV Immigration Law LLC by accident (just a Google search for some immigration questions I had), but I am SO glad we did!! There is no one else we would trust more or depend on as much as we do with Alex and his team. He provided us with a free initial consult, and extremely reasonable prices for additional consults, as well as email support with a summary of everything discussed. Alex was extremely thorough in explaining next steps and recommendations for us.
If anyone has any immigration legal issues of any kind, I 10000% recommend Alex!!
Thank you for being so amazing and accommodating with us for our needs, Alex! :)
The process
Know what happens next.
Every case is different, but a disciplined process makes the work more understandable and keeps important details connected.
Map the history
We review the petitioner's status, the family relationship, entries and exits, prior filings, court history, and the relative's current location.
Choose the route
We identify the process that may fit, the forms involved, the likely sequence, and any issue that should be addressed before filing.
Build the record
We organize civil documents, relationship evidence, financial sponsorship materials, translations, and explanations into a coherent submission.
Prepare for the next stage
We track notices, respond to requests, prepare for interviews, and help the family understand what the government is asking for.
What it costs
Flat fees, quoted in writing before you decide.
Every fee here is the same number that appears in your engagement letter. We list our attorney fee, then the government filing fee separately, at cost. We never mark up USCIS fees and we never bill the case by the hour.
I-130 family petition
$2,000–$2,650
+ $675 USCIS fee ($625 filed online)
Spouse, parent, or child of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Forms, evidence checklist, cover letter, NVC coordination, and RFE response included.
K-1 fiancé(e) visa
$3,850–$4,950
+ $675 USCIS + $265 DS-160 · medical exam separate
Petition and full consular process, including evidence strategy, DS-160 support, and interview preparation.
Adjustment of status
$5,500–$6,600
+ ~$3,005 USCIS fees (I-130 $675 · I-485 $1,440 · I-765 $260 · I-131 $630)
Full green-card packet with I-864, work permit, and travel document, plus RFE responses and pre-interview preparation. Interview attendance +$1,650 if requested.
Monthly payment plans
$225–$450/mo
No credit check
Most clients begin here, on autopay with clear milestones and a small initial payment to open the file. Preview a plan →
Attorney fee estimates only; scope and final pricing are confirmed at intake. Cases involving waivers, removal history, or prior denials are quoted separately. USCIS and Department of State fees shown reflect the current 2026 schedules, are paid directly to the government, and are never marked up—see the full filing-fee guide.
Pause before filing or travel
Some facts deserve review first.
A family relationship can support a petition, but it does not erase every immigration problem or guarantee a green card.
Have a court notice, removal order, filing deadline, arrest, or urgent travel need?
Tell the attorney at the start of your consultation and bring every notice or record you have.
- Entry without inspection, uncertain entry records, or use of another person's documents
- Visa overstay, unlawful presence, prior departure, or plans to leave the United States
- Past denial, alleged fraud or misrepresentation, false claim to citizenship, or inconsistent filings
- Arrest, citation, charge, conviction, or expunged record—inside or outside the United States
- Immigration court, prior removal or deportation, voluntary departure, or missed hearing
- Prior marriage petitions, short courtship, separation, divorce, abuse, or difficulty filing I-751 jointly
Prepare with purpose
A useful first-document checklist.
Do not send original documents or sensitive records through ordinary email unless the office gives you a secure method.
Identity and civil records
Passports, birth and marriage certificates, divorce decrees, name-change records, and certified translations when required.
Immigration history
Visas, I-94 records, prior applications, receipt and decision notices, work permits, travel documents, and court papers.
Relationship evidence
Shared residence and finances, insurance, photos across time, travel, communication, children, and affidavits when useful.
Financial sponsorship
Recent tax records, proof of current income, household information, and possible joint-sponsor documents if needed.
Two-minute route guide
Which process should you ask about?
Four general questions, answered in your browser. Nothing is sent to the firm and nothing here is a legal eligibility determination—it simply tells you which conversation to start.
Where we work
An Allentown office serving the Lehigh Valley and beyond.
One downtown Allentown office, clients across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Families meet us in person or by video, and most of the work happens remotely through a secure portal.
609 W. Hamilton Street, No. 102
Allentown, PA 18101
(484) 763-4984
Text (484) 763-4984
WhatsApp (835) 245-2775
info@lehighvalleyimmigrationlawyers.com
Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Consultations in English and Spanish · In person or by video · Most work handled remotely through a secure client portal
Get directions →Continue learning
Focused help for the stage you are in.
Use these pages to understand related processes, then bring your questions and documents to a confidential review.
Common questions
Family immigration FAQ.
General information can help you prepare, but the answer for your family depends on the full facts and current government rules.
Does filing Form I-130 give my relative legal status?
No. Form I-130 asks USCIS to recognize a qualifying family relationship. Filing or approval does not by itself grant lawful status, work authorization, protection from removal, or a green card.
Can Form I-130 and Form I-485 be filed together?
Sometimes. USCIS permits concurrent filing in certain categories when an immigrant visa is immediately available, including many immediate-relative cases involving U.S. citizens. Adjustment eligibility, entry history, and other bars still need review.
What if my spouse overstayed a visa?
Some immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are exempt from certain adjustment-of-status bars, but an overstay does not erase every issue. The original entry, later travel, removal history, misrepresentation, and other facts can change the analysis.
Can I travel while Form I-485 is pending?
Leaving the United States while adjustment is pending can cause USCIS to treat the application as abandoned unless the person has appropriate advance parole or falls within a limited exception. Advance parole also does not guarantee readmission. Get case-specific advice before making travel plans.
What is Form I-864, and can we use a joint sponsor?
Form I-864 is a legally enforceable affidavit of financial support used in many family-based cases. The petitioning sponsor generally must submit one even when a qualified joint sponsor also submits a separate Form I-864.
What helps prove a good-faith marriage?
Evidence may include shared residence and finances, insurance, taxes, travel, photographs over time, communication, children, and statements from people who know the couple. Quality, context, and consistency matter more than simply collecting a large volume.
What happens after an I-130 is approved for consular processing?
Many approved cases move to the National Visa Center for fees, the DS-260 application, financial evidence, and civil documents before interview preparation and an immigrant-visa interview at the assigned embassy or consulate.
When is Form I-751 filed?
For a standard joint filing, conditional residents generally file during the 90-day period before conditional residence expires. USCIS also permits certain individual filing requests or waivers, and those may follow different timing rules. Do not wait to seek advice if joint filing is unsafe or impossible.
How long will a family immigration case take?
Timing varies by form, category, visa availability, service center, consular post, and case-specific issues. Use the current USCIS processing-times tool and State Department information rather than relying on a single estimate.
How much does a family immigration case cost?
The firm quotes a flat legal fee in writing before you retain, and government filing fees are paid separately to USCIS or the Department of State at face value. Typical attorney fees run $2,000–$2,650 for an I-130 family petition, $3,850–$4,950 for a K-1 fiancé(e) case, and $5,500–$6,600 for a full adjustment-of-status package. Most clients pay $225–$450 per month on an autopay plan with no credit check. Cases involving waivers, removal history, or prior denials are quoted individually.
Information reviewed against official guidance from USCIS on concurrent filing, USCIS on Form I-864, USCIS on pending green-card applications, USCIS on I-751 filing waivers, and the Department of State immigrant-visa process. Last content review: September 12, 2026. This page provides general information, not legal advice.
Your family deserves a clear plan
From our door in Allentown to yours.
Tell us who you are trying to bring together, where they are now, and what has happened before. We will help you understand the questions that matter next.
English and Spanish · Serving families in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and nationwide