Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in Palatine, IL
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes particular family members of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to become permanent residents of Palatine, IL, 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 U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference permanent resident cards are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Palatine, IL can help your family decide the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping you unite with your family to build or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Palatine, IL?
To start, the family member in Palatine, IL who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection needed for sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member outside the United States has to stand by for visas to be available dependent on the date of submission and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can apply for their status to be adjusted by filing forms including 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 for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Often, Palatine, IL applicants have to wait for years or in many instances, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Palatine, IL?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires substantial work and in-depth expertise. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can vary significantly based on where you're immigrating from and which preference category you belong to. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. With that kind of waiting period, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with the utmost accuracy. A family immigration attorney in Palatine, IL can assist with all the required paperwork and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Palatine, IL immigration lawyers can assist you in complying with ever-changing laws and regulations and understand complicated documents. They understand the application timelines and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can reduce wait times, experience a smoother application, and boost your likelihood of success.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Palatine, IL: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Palatine, IL. 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 advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We're ready to assist with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.