Bringing family to America? Consider Hawaii

Did you know that one out of every five Hawaii residents is an immigrant? Of all the states in America, Hawaii is one of the most welcoming to foreign nationals wishing to relocate their families. Other immigration facts involving Hawaii include:

• Nearly one in four workers originate from another nation
• Most of the immigrant population came from the Philippines, China, Japan and Korea
• About one in seven American born Hawaiians have at least one parent that immigrated from another nation
• More than half of immigrant residents have already become naturalized citizens

Hawaii offers immigrant families job opportunities, a welcoming atmosphere and a beautiful environment. What are you waiting for?

How does family immigration work?

You or the family members you wish to bring to Hawaii permanently must have an immigrant visa. To acquire such a visa, you must have a sponsor that is 21 years of age or older.

There are two ways to get an immigrant visa for one or more of your family members. The first one involves having an immediate relative that is a U.S. citizen. For example, if you are an American citizen and want to bring your family to Hawaii, you can file a petition on behalf of:

• Your spouse
• One or both parents
• Your siblings
• Your children

If you are a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., your family immigration options are more limited. For example, those with a lawful permanent resident status can only file an immigrant petition on behalf of a spouse or an unmarried child.

The information here represents only a small portion of what you should know when seeking family immigration. We suggest learning more about the laws, rules and procedures for bringing a family member to Hawaii.