Ruston, LA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes specific relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Ruston, LA and the United States in general. With U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this type of green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference have a different path from green cards for immediate family members, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. Family green card attorneys in Ruston, LA can help your family decide the most fitting category of green card, reconnecting you with your family so you can establish and continue your life together in the United States.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Ruston, LA?
To begin, the Ruston, LA family member who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen must file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship required for sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member outside the United States 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 applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted by filing forms including I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible is given preference classification, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. Often, Ruston, LA applicants have to wait for years or in some cases, even decades for family preference green cards to be available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Ruston, LA?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires substantial work and legal understanding. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can fluctuate substantially depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your designated 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 complete accuracy. Your Ruston, LA family immigration lawyer can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
An immigration attorney in Ruston, LA can assist you with understanding regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They know the application’s schedules and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can shorten potential delays, undergo a more seamless process, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Ruston, LA: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Ruston, LA. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and many of our team members are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We're ready to assist with your and your family's immigration necessities. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.