Pennington, AL Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card permits certain relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Pennington, AL and the United States in general. For those who are U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. with this category of green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference green 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 in Pennington, AL can help you determine the correct type of green card category, reconnecting you with your family so you can create or advance your lives together in the U.S.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Pennington, AL?
First, the Pennington, AL family member who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship that qualifies for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member outside the United States has to stand by for visas to be available depending on when they applied and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can request a status adjustment through form I-485 and others.
Every relative type who is eligible is given preference classification, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Often, Pennington, AL applicants have to wait for years and, in some cases, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Pennington, AL?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and significant efforts and legal knowledge. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can change considerably depending on your country of origin and your preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. When you face this kind of potential delay, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with accurate information. Your Pennington, AL family immigration lawyer can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Pennington, AL immigration lawyers can also help you navigate laws and regulations that change constantly and understand complicated documents. They understand the tight application timeline and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you can reduce wait times, enjoy a more streamlined process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Pennington, AL
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Pennington, AL. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We’re here to help with your and your family's immigration necessities. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.