This guide explains how marriage green cards, K-1 fiancé visas, family petitions and work visas generally work for Fort Lauderdale and Broward clients. We have no office in Fort Lauderdale or Broward County. Our only office is in Orlando, and we serve the area by secure video and phone, with in-person meetings in Orlando. Many clients complete their entire case this way. Forms and fees change, so confirm current requirements before filing.
- We have no Fort Lauderdale office; our only office is in Orlando.
- Many cases proceed entirely through secure document sharing and video.
- The guide covers same-sex couples and K-1 visas.
- Work visas for employers and professionals are included.
Introduction
Fort Lauderdale families and employers deal with nearly every kind of visa question: marriage green cards, fiancé visas, petitions for parents and siblings, and work visas for growing businesses. If you are looking for a visa attorney Fort Lauderdale residents can meet by video or at our Orlando office, this guide explains how these cases generally work and how our firm can help. To ask about your situation, call 1-844-YO-PELEO or contact us.
We have no office in Fort Lauderdale or Broward County. Vasquez Law Firm serves the area by secure video and phone, and meets clients in person at our only office in Orlando. Many clients complete their entire case this way, sending documents securely and preparing for interviews by video.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Forms, fees and procedures change, so confirm current requirements with USCIS and the State Department and speak with a lawyer about your own facts.
Immigration Help for Fort Lauderdale Residents
Fort Lauderdale is home to people from the Caribbean, South America, Europe and Canada, and many households include a mix of citizens, permanent residents and people on temporary visas. That variety shows up in the cases people bring to a lawyer:
- A U.S. citizen marrying a partner who is already in the country on a visa, or who lives abroad.
- A citizen engaged to someone overseas who wants to marry in Florida.
- A permanent resident petitioning for a spouse or child.
- A business in the hospitality, marine, healthcare or tech sectors sponsoring a foreign worker.
- A family member whose visa expired and who wants to know whether any path to a green card exists.
For in-person steps such as interviews and biometrics, Broward residents are generally scheduled with the USCIS field office and application support center that serve their county. A lawyer's job is to make sure the file that arrives at that interview is complete and consistent.
Green Cards Through Family
A green card lawyer in Fort Lauderdale usually starts by identifying the relationship and the petitioner's status. U.S. citizens can petition for spouses, children, parents (if the citizen is at least 21) and siblings. Permanent residents can petition for spouses and unmarried children. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, meaning spouses, unmarried children under 21 and parents, do not wait for an annual visa number. Other relatives fall into preference categories, and the wait depends on the category and the country of birth.
The case begins with Form I-130. If the relative is in the United States and eligible, they may apply for adjustment of status with Form I-485. If they are abroad or not eligible to adjust, the case moves to consular processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Eligibility issues should be checked early, such as prior overstays, entries without inspection or past immigration violations, because those facts can decide which path is open and whether a waiver is needed. You can read more on our family-based green card page.
The financial side matters too. The petitioner signs an Affidavit of Support, Form I-864, and if their income is not enough, a joint sponsor may be needed. Gather tax returns, pay records and proof of household size before the interview, not after. If the petitioner is a permanent resident, remember that the category, and the waiting time that comes with it, can change if the petitioner later becomes a citizen, so it is worth discussing that plan with a lawyer before filing.
Marriage-Based Immigration in Fort Lauderdale
Marriage cases look simple on paper but are reviewed closely, because USCIS must be satisfied the marriage is genuine and not entered into only for immigration benefits. People searching for marriage immigration help are usually at one of three points: just married and ready to file, preparing for the interview, or facing a request for more evidence.
A marriage immigration attorney helps couples assemble evidence of a real, shared life: a joint lease or deed, shared bank accounts and bills, insurance listing each other, photos over time, travel records and statements from people who know the couple. Couples should also prepare to answer questions about how they met, their daily routine and their plans.
If the green card is approved before the marriage is two years old, the spouse receives conditional residence. The couple then files Form I-751 to remove conditions during the 90-day window before the card's two-year expiration. Missing that filing can cause the status to end, so it belongs on the calendar the day the card arrives. Whichever firm you choose, ask how they will handle that second filing. Our marriage green card page covers the steps in more detail.
When the foreign spouse lives abroad, the usual route is an I-130 followed by an immigrant visa application through the National Visa Center and an embassy interview. A lawyer can explain how that route compares with filing from inside the United States when the spouse is already here.
Same-sex couples
Since the Supreme Court's 2013 decision in United States v. Windsor, marriages between same-sex spouses are treated the same as other marriages for U.S. immigration purposes, provided the marriage was legally valid where it took place. The case is handled under the same rules and evidence standards as any marriage petition, and a lawyer can address practical questions, such as marriages performed in countries with different laws or prior marriages that need proof of divorce.
How the K-1 Fiancé Visa Process Works
A U.S. citizen engaged to someone abroad can file Form I-129F for a K-1 visa. In general, the couple must both be legally able to marry, intend to marry within 90 days after the fiancé enters the United States, and have met in person within the two years before filing, unless that requirement is waived for limited reasons. The usual steps are:
- The citizen files Form I-129F with evidence of the relationship and the in-person meeting.
- USCIS reviews and, if approved, sends the case to the State Department and the consulate abroad.
- The fiancé completes the visa application, medical exam and consular interview.
- The fiancé enters the United States on the K-1 visa.
- The couple marries within 90 days of entry.
- The foreign spouse applies to adjust status, and work authorization may be requested at that stage.
A lawyer will compare the K-1 with marrying abroad and filing a spousal petition, because each route has different costs in time, travel and paperwork, and the right choice depends on the couple's plans. Ask how the lawyer handles the second half of the case, the adjustment filing after the wedding, since that is where many problems arise. See our K-1 fiancé visa page for an overview.
Document Checklist for Family and Marriage Cases
- Passports and any visas, I-94 records and past immigration paperwork for both spouses or partners.
- Birth certificates and, if either person was married before, divorce or death records.
- The marriage certificate, or proof of the engagement for a K-1 case.
- Proof of the petitioner's citizenship or permanent residence.
- Tax returns, pay records and employer letters for the Affidavit of Support.
- Evidence of a genuine relationship: lease, bank accounts, photographs, travel records and messages.
- Police or court records for any arrest, even if the case was dismissed.
- Passport-style photographs and any medical exam documents when required.
Bring originals and copies. If a document is in another language, ask about translations before filing so there is no delay later. Keep a complete copy of everything you send, including receipts and mailing records, and keep a running list of the dates of any trips outside the United States, since both spouses may be asked about them at the interview.
Timeline and Processing Expectations
Family-based timing depends on the category. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens do not wait for an annual visa number, while other relatives wait in preference categories whose timing depends on the category and the country of birth. USCIS and the State Department publish current processing information and visa bulletin data, and we do not quote numbers here because they change.
Within any category, how quickly you move depends largely on how complete your first filing is, how quickly you answer requests for evidence and, for consular cases, appointment availability at the embassy or consulate.
| Stage | What happens | Who acts |
|---|
| Petition | Form I-130 or Form I-129F is filed with evidence of the relationship | Citizen or permanent resident petitioner |
| Petition review | USCIS reviews and may request more evidence | USCIS |
| Adjustment or consular processing | Form I-485 inside the U.S., or National Visa Center and consulate abroad | Applicant, USCIS or State Department |
| Interview | Officer reviews the relationship, finances and background | USCIS or consular officer |
| Decision and conditions | Green card issued; conditional residence leads to Form I-751 later | USCIS, then couple |
Work Visas for Fort Lauderdale Employers and Professionals
Not every visa question involves family. Local employers sponsor workers in categories such as H-1B specialty occupations, L-1 intracompany transfers and other temporary work visas, and some workers later move to employment-based green cards. Each category has its own eligibility rules and timing, and some are subject to annual limits. Our work visa services for Florida employers and workers explain the main options and how an employer and employee can plan the sequence of filings.
Employers should also think about their own obligations, including accurate job descriptions and employment verification for every new hire. A lawyer can help line up the job, the worker's qualifications and the filing strategy before an offer is finalized.
How We Work With Fort Lauderdale Clients
When you compare lawyers, ask who will prepare your file, whether they will attend the interview with you, how they communicate and whether they can work with you in Spanish. A good fit is a lawyer who explains risks honestly instead of promising an outcome.
Our one office is at 1111 E Amelia Street in Orlando, and we serve clients in Fort Lauderdale and across Broward County through secure video and phone consultations, with in-person meetings available in Orlando. We prepare clients for interviews by video, explain where to go for biometrics and interviews according to their notices, and help families organize evidence from home. Consultations are available in English and Spanish.
Cost Factors and Fee Breakdown
The table lists the common cost categories in family and visa cases. Amounts are not shown because they change and depend on the form.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|
| Form I-130 petition for an alien relative | Check USCIS for the current fee | Filed by the citizen or permanent resident |
| Form I-129F fiancé petition | Check USCIS for the current fee | Used for K-1 cases |
| Form I-485 adjustment of status | Check USCIS for the current fee | May involve related forms for work permit or travel permission |
| Immigrant or K-1 visa fees and medical exam | Check the State Department for the current fee | Apply to cases processed at a consulate |
| Attorney fees | Varies by case | Depend on whether the case is marriage, fiancé or another category and what the agreement covers |
Government filing fees change, and they differ by form and sometimes by the applicant's circumstances. Always check the agency's current fee schedule before you send any payment, because a filing submitted with the wrong fee can be rejected and the delay can matter. For a marriage or K-1 case, ask your lawyer to list both the agency fees and the steps after the wedding that may need separate filings.
Attorney fees are separate from government fees and depend on how complex the matter is. Ask for the scope of work in a written agreement, including whether responses to requests for evidence, interview preparation and later filings are included. Be cautious about any lawyer who guarantees an outcome, because the agency or consulate makes the final decision.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing the 90-day window to file Form I-751 after receiving conditional residence.
- Assuming a K-1 and a marriage petition are interchangeable without comparing the steps.
- Failing to disclose a prior marriage, overstay or arrest.
- Filing without enough evidence of a shared life, or with inconsistent answers between spouses.
- Traveling abroad while an application is pending without checking the rules.
- Using a notario or consultant who is not a lawyer.
- Marrying or traveling on a fixed plan before checking the immigration timeline.
When to Call a Lawyer
Call a lawyer before you file if you or your partner has ever overstayed, entered without inspection, been arrested or been refused a visa. Call also when you receive a request for evidence, when an interview is scheduled, when your conditional residence is nearing its two-year point and when an employer wants to sponsor you. A consultation can compare options such as a K-1, a marriage petition and an employment visa before you commit to one.
About Vasquez Law Firm
Vasquez Law Firm practices immigration law only. Our only office is at 1111 E Amelia Street in Orlando, and we serve clients across Florida by phone and secure video, with in-person meetings in Orlando. William J. Vásquez is the founding attorney, and consultations are available in English and Spanish. We do not have an office in Fort Lauderdale or Broward County, and clients there are served by video and phone. To talk about your case, call 1-844-YO-PELEO or contact us.
Sources and References
Related services: family-based green card services, immigration lawyers in Florida
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This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different; speak with an immigration lawyer about your situation.
