Durham, CT Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specific relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents of Durham, CT, and the United States in general. With U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. with this type of green card include spouses, children and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference permanent resident cards have a different path from green cards for immediate family members, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney in Durham, CT can help your family decide the right green card category to pursue, helping your family to reconnect and build and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Durham, CT?
To get started, the family member located in Durham, CT who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen needs to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship that qualifies for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, 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 family member is legally in the United States, they can apply for their status to be adjusted through form I-485 and others.
Each category of eligible relative is given preference classification, which each have their own annual limits. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Durham, CT applicants often wait for years and, in some cases, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Durham, CT?
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates hard work and legal understanding. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly depending on your country of origin and your assigned preference category. 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, you must apply as early as possible and with accurate information. Family immigration lawyers near you in Durham, CT can help you present the requisite documents and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
An immigration attorney in Durham, CT can assist you with understanding constantly changing laws and regulations and interpret complex documentation. 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 shorten potential delays, undergo a more seamless process, and boost your likelihood of success.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Durham, CT: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When applying for a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Durham, CT. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and many of our team members are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys can help your family navigate the legal immigration process as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're ready to help with your and your family member's immigration needs. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.