Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in Northport, AL
A Family Preference Green Card permits specific relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Northport, AL and the United States in general. For those who are U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this type of green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference permanent resident cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Northport, AL can help you to decide the right green card category to pursue, helping your family to reconnect and begin or advance your lives together in the U.S.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Northport, AL?
To get started, the family member located in Northport, AL who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen needs to file Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member who is out of the country has to stand by for visas to be available based on their application date and the current visa limits imposed by law. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can petition for a status adjustment through form I-485 and others.
Every relative type who is eligible is assigned a preference category, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Many Northport, AL applicants end up waiting for years or in some cases, even decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Immigration Lawyer in Northport, AL?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and hard work and legal knowledge. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can vary significantly which varies based on your nationality and your designated preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. With that kind of waiting period, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with all of your correct data . A family immigration attorney in Northport, AL can assist with all the required paperwork and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
An immigration attorney in Northport, AL can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and understand complicated documents. They understand the tight application timeline and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can reduce wait times, experience a smoother application, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Northport, AL Family Immigration Lawyer
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Northport, AL. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys can guide your family through the immigration procedures and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We’re here to help with all of your immigration requirements. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.