West Des Moines, IA Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Family Preference Green Card permits certain relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in West Des Moines, IA and the entire United States. For those who are U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought 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). For lawful permanent residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants 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 West Des Moines, IA can help you to decide the correct type of green card category, reconnecting you with your family so you can establish and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in West Des Moines, IA?
To start, the family member in West Des Moines, IA who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen must file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation needed for sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member outside the United States must wait for visas to become accessible based on the date they apply and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted through forms that include the I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible has a defined preference categorization, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. As an example, F1, or First Preference, 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. West Des Moines, IA applicants often wait for years or in many instances, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in West Des Moines, IA
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires 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 fluctuate substantially depending on the country you’re immigrating from and which preference category you belong to. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, 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 West Des Moines, IA can assist with all the required paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
West Des Moines, IA immigration lawyers can help you understand the regulations and laws that change regularly and understand complicated documents. They understand the application timelines and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you can reduce wait times, experience a smoother application, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in West Des Moines, IA as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When applying for a family-based green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in West Des Moines, IA. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys will assist your family through the legal immigration system and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We're eager to assist with your and your family's immigration necessities. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.