Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Bell City, LA
A Family Preference Green Card permits specified family members of United States citizens and permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Bell City, LA and the United States in general. With U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this category of green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, eligible family members for this type of green card include unmarried children no matter what age, and spouses.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your Bell City, LA family green card lawyer can help you to decide the right green card category to pursue, helping you reunite with your family and build or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Bell City, LA?
To get started, the family member located in Bell City, LA who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen files 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 outside the United States must remain waiting until visas are obtainable 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 for their immigration status to be adjusted through form I-485 and others.
Every eligible kind of family member has a defined preference categorization, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. For example, First Preference, or F1, 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. Bell City, LA applicants often wait for years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Bell City, LA
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and consistent effort and legal knowledge. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can differ 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. Bell City, LA family immigration attorneys can help you with the documentation and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Immigration lawyers in Bell City, LA can assist you in complying with laws and regulations that change constantly and understand complicated documents. They understand the tight application timeline and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can minimize delays, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Bell City, LA: Your Family Immigration Attorney
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Bell City, LA. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers can guide your family through the immigration procedures and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We're eager to assist with your and your family member's immigration needs. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.