Jacksonville, FL Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Family Preference Green Card permits specific relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Jacksonville, FL and all of the United States. If someone is a U.S. citizen, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. with this category of green card include children, spouses and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For lawful permanent residents, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Jacksonville, FL can help you determine the most fitting category of green card, helping you reunite with your family and begin or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Jacksonville, FL Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To begin, the Jacksonville, FL family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation needed for sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad must wait for visas to become accessible based on their application date and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can apply for their status to be adjusted by filing forms including I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member is assigned a preference category, which all have individual annual caps. For example, First Preference, or F1, 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. Many Jacksonville, FL applicants end up waiting for years or in many instances, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Jacksonville, FL?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and significant efforts and legal knowledge. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can change considerably based on where you're immigrating from and your assigned preference category. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, visas. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with the utmost accuracy. Your Jacksonville, FL family immigration lawyer can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Jacksonville, FL immigration lawyers can also help you navigate constantly changing laws and regulations and clarify confusing paperwork. They have a grasp of application timetables and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can shorten potential delays, enjoy a more streamlined process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Jacksonville, FL Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Jacksonville, FL. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys will assist your family through the legal immigration system as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're ready to assist with your and your family's immigration necessities. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee the same results.