Introduction: Family Matters
At Occam Immigration, we believe your family shouldn’t be separated by borders. Charleston, with its warm community and rich history, is a wonderful place to settle down—if your loved ones can join you. That’s where family-based immigration comes in. Whether you’re seeking to bring parents, children, siblings, or a fiancé to the U.S., we’re here to guide you through the process and keep your family together in Charleston.
I’m David Vyborny, the founder and managing attorney at Occam Immigration. Having gone through multiple immigration processes at the Charleston USCIS Field Office (marriage-based green card, removal of conditions, and naturalization), I know how overwhelming it can feel to navigate these forms, interviews, and deadlines. My personal experiences shape our approach—offering hands-on support, empathy, and local know-how at every step.
What Is Family-Based Immigration?
Family-based immigration covers a variety of visas and green cards for close relatives of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (green card holders). Common categories include:
- Immediate Relatives: Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens. These visas aren’t subject to annual caps.
- Preference Categories: Adult children, married children, and siblings of U.S. citizens, as well as spouses and children of green card holders. These have yearly caps, so wait times vary.
- Fiancé Visas (K-1): If you’re engaged to a U.S. citizen, you can enter the U.S. to get married and then apply for a green card.
Who Can Benefit in Charleston?
Our local clients come to us with different goals:
- Bringing Parents from Abroad: If you’re a U.S. citizen living in Charleston, you may want to care for aging parents here.
- Reuniting with Children: Maybe you moved first and want to bring children from another country to join you in the Lowcountry.
- Sibling Sponsorship: You grew up together, and now you want your brother or sister to experience Charleston’s charm.
- Fiancé Visas: You fell in love overseas and want to start your life together in the U.S.
Regardless of the category, Charleston’s USCIS Field Office plays a major role in processing and, often, interviewing for these family-based cases. Knowing local traffic patterns, interview schedules, and officer preferences can help you avoid surprises and shorten your wait.
Fast-Track-to-Filing for Families
We get it—time is critical when it comes to reuniting with loved ones. Our Fast-Track-to-Filing Program ensures we collect the right documents, fill out forms accurately, and submit your petition as soon as possible. Here’s how it works:
Strategy & Information Session
We collect all of the information we need to prepare your forms, get to know you and your family to build a winning strategy for proving your case, and work with you to decide on a clear list of evidence based on your specific situation.Application Building
While you are collecting and sending us evidence, we are preparing your forms and building your application package. We make sure you are staying on track by having regularly scheduled check-in appointments and providing you with valuable tools to make things easier.Detailed Review
Errors cause delays. We go through every form and supporting document to catch mistakes before filing.Priority Submission
Once everything is set, we file immediately and track your case until a decision is made.
Charleston Field Office Insight
Having personally dealt with Charleston’s Field Office for my own applications, here are a few local insights:
- Scheduling: Interview or biometric appointments can vary in waiting times. Don’t panic if you don’t hear back right away; we monitor your case and let you know as soon as we receive any updates.
- Parking & Arrival: If you’re coming from areas like Mount Pleasant or Summerville, add extra time for traffic. Arriving late can raise red flags and add stress to an already tense day. Also, naturalization oath ceremonies are held several times a week, which brings more cars with families to the small parking lot of approximately 50 spaces.
- Document Extras: Even if we’ve submitted your forms, officers will be expecting you to bring additional evidence of your relationship (recent photos, letters, or financial records) to the interview. Officers appreciate thorough applicants. We prepare our clients with an interview-day package of their evidence.
Types of Family-Based Immigration Cases We Handle
Parent/Child Petitions
U.S. citizens can sponsor their parents, and green card holders can sponsor unmarried children. Timelines differ based on priority categories.Sibling Sponsorships
Siblings of U.S. citizens are in the fourth preference category, which can mean a longer wait. We help you stay on top of deadlines and document requirements.Fiancé Visas (K-1)
If you plan to marry within 90 days of your fiancé’s arrival, a K-1 visa lets them enter the U.S. for the wedding, after which they can apply for a green card.Extended Family Options
Sometimes cousins or other relatives ask about coming to the U.S. through family. We can explain the realities of U.S. immigration law, which generally has limited categories for non-immediate relatives.
For spousal visas, visit our Marriage-Based Green Cards page
Success Story: Reuniting the Garza Family
“When my husband and I moved to Charleston, our biggest worry was bringing my teenage son from overseas. We contacted David at Occam Immigration, and he and his team made the process of getting his visa stress-free. Their knowledge of the system and understandable communication style was priceless. They had my son at ease going into his interview alone, with all of the information he needed and tips based on their clients experiences. Today, our son is with us, and we’re building a new life together in Charleston.”
Frequently Asked Questions
It varies. Immediate relative petitions (like spouses or parents of U.S. citizens) can be processed faster than sibling petitions, which might have longer waiting periods. We’ll keep you updated with the latest Charleston Field Office timelines.
Typically, yes. Each relative needs their own petition or needs to be listed as a derivative on someone else’s application. We can explain the exact requirements for your situation.
In many cases, yes. Immigration law considers certain step and adopted children to be immediate relatives, as long as you meet specific rules and timing. We’ll clarify this during your consultation.
You may get a Request for Evidence (RFE) or have to attend additional interviews. That’s why we focus on strong supporting documents and a thorough application from the start.
You can, but the preference categories might have longer wait times, and not all relatives are eligible. We’ll walk you through your options.
Next Steps: Secure Your Family’s Future in Charleston
Family-based immigration is more than a stack of paperwork—it’s a path to reuniting with the people who matter most. Don’t let confusing rules or slow processing keep you apart.
Here’s How to Start:
- 📞 Call Us: (843) 804-4844 or schedule a consultation.
- 🗣️ Discuss Your Needs: Tell us about your family and your goals.
- 🏎️ Use Our Fast-Track-to-Filing: We’ll collect documents, review every form, and file as soon as possible.
- 💬 Prepare for Charleston USCIS Interview: If an interview is required, we’ll give you tips and mock interview practice based on our personal experience at the Charleston Field Office.
Related Pages
- Marriage-Based Green Cards in Charleston, SC
- Charleston USCIS Interview Preparation
- Citizenship & Naturalization in Charleston, SC
- Main Charleston Immigration Lawyer Page
At Occam Immigration, we understand the emotional weight behind every family-based petition. We’ve gone through the Charleston USCIS process ourselves and have seen how being informed and prepared can save families time, stress, and heartache. Let us help keep your family close—because everyone deserves the chance to build a life together in Charleston.
