Leatherwood, KY Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specific relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Leatherwood, KY and the entire United States. With U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this category of green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include unmarried children and spouses.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference 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 Leatherwood, 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 Leatherwood, KY?
First, the Leatherwood, KY family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection needed for sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member who is not in the United States has to stand by for visas to be available depending on when they applied and the current visa limits imposed by law. If the family member is legally in the United States, they can request a status adjustment through form I-485 and others.
Each category of eligible relative is given preference classification, which each have their own annual limits. First Preference, or F1, for example is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. It's common for Leatherwood, KY applicants to wait for many years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Immigration Lawyer in Leatherwood, KY?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires substantial work and particular know-how. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can change considerably which varies based on your nationality 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. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, you must apply as early as possible and with accurate information. A family immigration attorney in Leatherwood, KY can help you with the documentation and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Your Leatherwood, Kentucky immigration attorney can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the application timelines and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Leatherwood, KY: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Leatherwood, KY. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. 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 family's legal immigration needs. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.