Cedar Falls, IA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card permits specified family members of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Cedar Falls, IA and the United States in general. For U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come 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, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference permanent resident cards do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney in Cedar Falls, IA can help you determine the correct type of green card category, helping your family to reconnect and begin and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Cedar Falls, IA Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To start, the family member in Cedar Falls, IA who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation necessary for the 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 current visa limits imposed by law. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted through form I-485 and others.
Each eligible type of relative falls into a category of preference, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. Often, Cedar Falls, IA applicants have to wait for years or in many instances, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Cedar Falls, IA?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires substantial work and legal understanding. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can change considerably depending on your country of origin and your assigned preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with complete accuracy. Cedar Falls, IA family immigration attorneys can help you present the requisite documents and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Immigration lawyers in Cedar Falls, IA can also help you navigate laws and regulations that change constantly and comprehend intricate documentation. They know the application’s schedules and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can minimize delays, experience a smoother application, and boost your likelihood of success.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Cedar Falls, IA: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Cedar Falls, IA. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and many of our team members are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys can guide your family through the immigration procedures and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're ready to help with all of your immigration requirements. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.