Natchitoches, LA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows specified family members of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Natchitoches, LA and the rest of the U.S. For those who are U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include unmarried children no matter what age, and spouses.
Family preference green cards have a different path from green cards for immediate family members, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. Your Natchitoches, LA family green card lawyer can assist your family in determining the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping your family to reconnect and create and continue your life together in the United States.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Natchitoches, LA?
To start, the family member in Natchitoches, LA who is a US citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship necessary for the sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad has to stand by for visas to be available based on their application date and the current visa limits imposed by law. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can request a status adjustment through form I-485 and others.
Each category of eligible relative has a defined preference categorization, which all have individual annual caps. First Preference, or F1, for example is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Natchitoches, LA applicants often wait for years or in many instances, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Natchitoches, LA?
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates hard work and legal understanding. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can change considerably based on where you're immigrating from and your designated preference category. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, visas. When you face this kind of potential delay, you must apply as early as possible and with complete accuracy. Family immigration lawyers near you in Natchitoches, LA can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Your Natchitoches, Louisiana immigration attorney can assist you in complying with ever-changing laws and regulations and interpret complex documentation. They understand the tight application timeline and can help you or your family members prepare 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, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Natchitoches, LA as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Natchitoches, LA. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and many of our team members are immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers will assist your family through the legal immigration system as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're ready to assist with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.