Oakland, AR Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specific relatives of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to gain permanent residency in Oakland, AR and the United States in general. With U.S. citizens, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For those who are lawful permanent 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 designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. A family green card attorney in Oakland, AR can help you to decide the correct type of green card category, helping you unite with your family to begin and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Oakland, AR Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To start, the family member in Oakland, AR who is a US citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who lives abroad are required to wait for visas to become available 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 by filing forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative falls into a category of preference, which each have their own annual limits. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. Oakland, AR applicants often wait for years or in some cases, even decades for family preference green cards to open up.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Oakland, AR?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires hard work and in-depth expertise. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly based on where you're immigrating from and which preference category you belong to. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, visas. When you face this kind of potential delay, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with complete accuracy. Your Oakland, AR family immigration lawyer can help you with the documentation and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Immigration lawyers in Oakland, AR can also help you navigate laws and regulations that change constantly and clarify confusing paperwork. They understand the tight application timeline and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can minimize delays, experience a smoother application, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Oakland, AR Family Immigration Lawyer
When applying for a family-based green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Oakland, 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 will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're ready to assist with your and your family's immigration necessities. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.