Girdler, KY Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows certain relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents of Girdler, KY, and the United States in general. If someone is a U.S. citizen, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference green 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 Girdler, KY can help your family decide the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping your family to reconnect and create or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Girdler, KY?
To start, the family member in Girdler, KY who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad must wait for visas to become accessible dependent on the date of submission and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can petition for a status adjustment by filing forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative is assigned a preference category, all of which have annual limits. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Many Girdler, KY applicants end up waiting for years or in many instances, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Girdler, KY
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires consistent effort and legal knowledge. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly based on where you're immigrating from and your preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. With that kind of waiting period, you must apply as early as possible and with all of your correct data . A family immigration attorney in Girdler, KY can help you with the documentation and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Your Girdler, Kentucky immigration attorney can also help you navigate ever-changing laws and regulations and interpret complex documentation. They know the application’s schedules and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can reduce wait times, enjoy a more streamlined process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Girdler, KY as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When applying for a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Girdler, KY. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and many of our team members are immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We’re here to help with your and your family member's immigration needs. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.