- Dubai – Sheikh Zayed Road
- info@rockpowerbusinessgroup.org
- +971 56 834 7912
Family Reunification Visas
Reuniting Families Across Borders with Legal, Structured, and Reliable Support
🧭 What is a Family Reunification Visa?
A Family Reunification Visa allows foreign nationals to legally join their family members who are studying, working, or permanently residing abroad. It serves as a pathway for spouses, children, parents, or dependents to legally reside and sometimes work or study in the destination country.
Each country defines “family” differently and has unique requirements, processing times, and obligations for both the sponsor and the applicant.
🌍 Country-by-Country Family Reunification Visa Guide
🇺🇸 United States – F2, I-130, K-1, and IR/CR Categories
1. F-2 Visa (For Dependents of F-1 Students)
Who can apply:
- Spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an F-1 student
Key Points:
- F-2 spouses cannot work
- Children can attend school in the U.S.
- Must show financial support from the F-1 student or sponsor
2. I-130 Petition – Family-Sponsored Immigration (Green Card)
Who can apply:
- Spouses, children, parents, and siblings of U.S. citizens
- Spouses and unmarried children of green card holders
Categories:
- IR1/CR1: Spouse of a U.S. citizen
- IR2: Child of a U.S. citizen
- F2A/F2B: For permanent residents sponsoring family
Application Process:
- U.S. citizen or green card holder files Form I-130
- USCIS processes and forwards to NVC (National Visa Center)
- Applicant completes DS-260 and attends interview at U.S. Embassy
Average Processing Time:
12–24 months depending on case type and country
Work Authorization:
Available once permanent residency is granted (or after arrival on immigrant visa)
Age Limits:
- Children under 21 for IR2
- No age limit for spouses or parents
3. K-1 Visa – Fiancé(e) Visa
Purpose:
- For U.S. citizens bringing their fiancé(e) to marry within 90 days
Eligibility:
- Proof of real relationship
- Both must be legally free to marry
- Must marry within 90 days of entry
Leads to:
Adjustment of status to permanent resident (green card)
🇨🇦 Canada – Family Class Sponsorship
Who can sponsor:
- Canadian citizens or permanent residents
- Must be 18+ and financially able to support the family member
Who can be sponsored:
- Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner
- Dependent children (under 22)
- Parents or grandparents
- Orphaned siblings or nieces/nephews in rare cases
Eligibility Requirements:
- Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, communication, photos)
- No criminal or immigration violations
- Sponsor must not have defaulted on prior sponsorships or government assistance
Processing Time:
- Spouse/partner: 8–12 months
- Parents/grandparents: May take longer (2 years+ under Super Visa)
Work Authorization:
- Spouses being sponsored from within Canada may apply for an Open Work Permit
Financial Requirement:
- No income requirement for sponsoring a spouse/child
- Minimum income applies for parents/grandparents
Age Range:
- Spouse: 18+
- Children: under 22 (or older if dependent due to disability)
🇦🇺 Australia – Partner & Family Visas
1. Partner Visas (Subclasses 820/801 or 309/100)
Who can apply:
- Spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
Eligibility:
- Must prove a genuine, committed relationship
- Can apply onshore (820) or offshore (309)
- Two-stage process: temporary partner visa → permanent residency
Work Rights:
- Full work rights granted with temporary visa
Processing Time:
- 12 to 24 months, depending on stream
2. Child Visa (Subclass 101 / 802)
Eligibility:
- Child must be under 18 (or up to 25 if full-time student)
- Must be sponsored by a parent who is a citizen or PR
- Biological, adopted, or stepchildren are eligible
3. Parent Visa (Subclass 103 / 143 / 804)
Eligibility:
- Sponsored by a child who is a citizen/PR
- Must meet balance-of-family test (majority of children live in Australia)
- Long queues; faster under Contributory Parent Visa with higher fee
Age Limits:
- No age limit for most categories, but health and financial tests apply
🇪🇺 Schengen Area (Europe) – Family Reunification Visa
Countries Covered: France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, etc.
Eligibility:
- Immediate family of legal residents or citizens
- Must have residence permit or EU citizenship
Common Requirements:
- Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate)
- Proof of sponsor’s legal residence or citizenship
- Adequate housing and income
- Health insurance
- Language integration (required in Germany & France)
Processing Time:
3–9 months depending on the country and case complexity
Family Members Allowed:
- Spouse/partner
- Children under 18 (some allow up to 21 or older if dependent)
Residence Permits:
Granted upon arrival; often renewable annually
Work and study rights are generally included
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (Dubai) – UAE Family Visa
Who Can Sponsor Family:
- UAE residents earning above a certain income threshold
- Generally AED 4,000–5,000 monthly salary minimum (varies)
Eligible Family Members:
- Spouse
- Children (sons under 18, daughters until marriage)
- Parents (with higher salary requirement)
Sponsorship Requirements:
- Tenancy contract (Ejari)
- Employment contract and salary slip
- Medical fitness test (for adult dependents)
- Emirates ID application
Processing Time:
1–3 weeks after documentation approval
Validity:
1–2 years, renewable
Work Rights:
- Spouses may apply for a work permit if offered employment
- Children under sponsorship cannot work unless on student/work visa
How We Support You
At Rock Power Business Group, we offer full-service support for family reunification cases, including:
- Relationship documentation support
- Embassy-specific requirements guidance
- Translation and notarization of legal documents
- Application submission and follow-up
- Interview coaching (where applicable)
- Post-arrival integration and settlement services
Popular Countries
Customer Support
+971 56 834 7912
Free Consultations
+971 54 467 6251