Lakeland, LA Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows certain relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Lakeland, LA and the entire United States. For U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this category of green card include spouses, children and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For those who are lawful permanent residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference green cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. A family green card attorney in Lakeland, LA can help you determine the most fitting category of green card, reconnecting you with your family so you can begin and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Lakeland, LA?
To begin, the Lakeland, LA family member who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection required for sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad has to stand by for visas to be available based on the date they apply and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can apply for their status to be adjusted with various forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative is given preference classification, which all have individual annual caps. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. Often, Lakeland, LA applicants have to wait for years or in many instances, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Lakeland, LA?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and hard work and legal knowledge. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can vary significantly depending on your country of origin and your assigned preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with the utmost accuracy. Your Lakeland, LA family immigration lawyer can help you present the requisite documents and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Your Lakeland, Louisiana immigration attorney can assist you with understanding constantly changing laws and regulations and interpret complex documentation. They understand the tight application timeline 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 may be able to get the visa much quicker, benefit from a smoother experience, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Lakeland, LA
When applying for a family-based green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Lakeland, LA. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys will assist your family through the legal immigration system 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. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.