Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Ashland, ME
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specified family members of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to become permanent residents of Ashland, ME, and the entire United States. For those who are U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference permanent resident cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. Family green card attorneys in Ashland, ME can help you to decide the right green card category to pursue, helping you unite with your family to begin and continue your life together in the United States.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Ashland, ME?
First, the Ashland, ME family member who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen must file Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection required for sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member outside the United States are required to wait for visas to become available based on the date they apply and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can request a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative has a defined preference categorization, which each have their own annual limits. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Many Ashland, ME applicants end up waiting for years or in many instances, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Ashland, ME
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates substantial work and in-depth expertise. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially depending on your country of origin and your 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 Ashland, ME family immigration lawyer can help you present the requisite documents and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Your Ashland, Maine immigration attorney can assist you in complying with regulations and laws that change regularly and clarify confusing paperwork. 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 can reduce wait times, undergo a more seamless process, and boost your likelihood of success.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Ashland, ME: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When applying for a family-based green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Ashland, ME. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and many of our team members are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual team can guide your family through the immigration procedures and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're ready to help with your and your family member's immigration needs. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.