Fort Smith, AR Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows certain relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Fort Smith, AR and the entire United States. For U.S. citizens, the relatives they can bring 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, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include unmarried children no matter what age, and spouses.
Family preference green cards do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your Fort Smith, AR family green card lawyer can help you determine the most fitting category of green card, helping you unite with your family to begin and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Fort Smith, AR?
First, the Fort Smith, AR family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident has to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection required for sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who is out of the country must remain waiting until visas are obtainable based on their application date and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted with various forms including I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible has a defined preference categorization, which all have individual annual caps. 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. Often, Fort Smith, AR applicants have to wait for years or even decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Immigration Lawyer in Fort Smith, AR?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires hard work and legal knowledge. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially depending on your country of origin and which preference category you belong to. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. When you face this kind of potential delay, you must apply as early as possible and with the utmost accuracy. A family immigration attorney in Fort Smith, AR can assist with all the required paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
An immigration attorney in Fort Smith, AR can assist you with understanding regulations and laws that change regularly and clarify confusing paperwork. They know the application’s schedules and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can shorten potential delays, experience a smoother application, and boost your likelihood of success.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Fort Smith, AR: Your Family Immigration Attorney
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Fort Smith, AR. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys can help your family navigate the legal immigration process and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're eager to assist with your and your family member's immigration needs. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.