Bath, ME Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows certain relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents of Bath, ME, and the entire United States. If someone is a U.S. citizen, family members that can come to the U.S. with this green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your Bath, ME family green card lawyer can help you to decide the correct type of green card category, helping you unite with your family to begin and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Bath, ME?
To get started, the family member located in Bath, ME who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who is not in the United States must remain waiting until visas are obtainable based on their application date and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted through form I-485 and others.
Each eligible type of relative is assigned a preference category, which all have individual annual caps. First Preference, or F1, for example 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. Bath, ME applicants often wait for years and, in some cases, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Bath, ME?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires substantial work and particular know-how. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially depending on the country you’re immigrating from and which preference category you belong to. 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 imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with complete accuracy. Family immigration lawyers near you in Bath, ME can assist with all the required paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Immigration lawyers in Bath, ME can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and comprehend intricate documentation. They have a grasp of application timetables and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you can minimize delays, enjoy a more streamlined process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Bath, ME Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Bath, ME. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. 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 assist with your and your family member's immigration needs. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.