Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Iowa City, IA
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows certain relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Iowa City, IA and all of the United States. For U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. with this green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For those who are lawful permanent residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference permanent resident cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Iowa City, IA can help you to decide the right green card category to pursue, helping you unite with your family to begin and continue your life together in the United States.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Iowa City, IA?
To start, the family member in Iowa City, IA who is a US citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection that qualifies for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who is not in the United States are required to wait for visas to become available based on their application date and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can request a status adjustment by filing forms including I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible has a defined preference categorization, which all have individual annual caps. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Many Iowa City, IA applicants end up waiting for years or in some cases, even decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Iowa City, IA?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and consistent effort and legal knowledge. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can differ which varies based on your nationality and your designated preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. When you face this kind of potential delay, you must apply as early as possible and with complete accuracy. Iowa City, IA family immigration attorneys can help you present the requisite documents and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Your Iowa City, Iowa immigration attorney can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They know the application’s schedules and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, enjoy a more streamlined process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Iowa City, IA as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Iowa City, IA. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and many of our team members are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers will assist your family through the legal immigration system and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We're ready to help with all of your immigration requirements. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.