Hammond, LA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows specified family members of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to gain permanent residency in Hammond, LA and the rest of the U.S. For U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this category of 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 unmarried children and spouses.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Hammond, LA can help you to decide the right green card category to pursue, reconnecting you with your family so you can build or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Hammond, LA?
To get started, the family member located in Hammond, LA who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident has to file Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection needed for sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member who is out of the country has to stand by for visas to be available depending on when they applied and the current visa limits imposed by law. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can apply for their status to be adjusted by filing forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative falls into a category of preference, all of which have annual limits. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. Hammond, LA applicants often wait for years or in some cases, even decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Hammond, LA?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and hard work and legal understanding. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can differ depending on your country of origin and your designated preference category. However, some have reported fifteen-year or more wait for an F4 (sibling) visa. With this kind of potential wait, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with complete accuracy. Your Hammond, LA family immigration lawyer can help you present the requisite documents and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
An immigration attorney in Hammond, LA can also help you navigate constantly changing laws and regulations and understand complicated documents. They know the application’s schedules and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, benefit from a smoother experience, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Hammond, LA: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Hammond, LA. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and many of our team members are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We’re here 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.