Stonington, CT Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card permits specified family members of United States citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Stonington, CT and the United States in general. If someone is a U.S. citizen, family members that can come to the U.S. with this type of green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). For those who are lawful permanent residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your Stonington, CT family green card lawyer can help you determine the correct type of green card category, helping you reunite with your family and build or advance your lives together in the U.S.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Stonington, CT?
To start, the family member in Stonington, CT who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident has to file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection necessary for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad has to stand by for visas to be available dependent on the date of submission and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the family member is legally in the United States, they can petition for a status adjustment through forms that include the I-485.
Each eligible type of relative is assigned a preference category, all of which have annual limits. First Preference, or F1, for example is designated for unmarried children who are 21 or older of United States citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Often, Stonington, CT applicants have to wait for years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Stonington, CT
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and significant efforts and legal understanding. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can vary significantly depending on your country of origin and your designated 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 complete accuracy. A family immigration attorney in Stonington, CT can assist with all the required paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
An immigration attorney in Stonington, CT can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the application timelines and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can shorten potential delays, benefit from a smoother experience, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Stonington, CT
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Stonington, CT. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and many of our team members are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys can help your family navigate the legal immigration process and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We're ready to help with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.