Belfast, ME Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes specific relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents of Belfast, ME, and all of the United States. For U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. with this category of green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For those who are lawful permanent residents, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include unmarried children and spouses.
Family preference permanent resident cards are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney in Belfast, ME can help you determine the right green card category to pursue, helping you reunite with your family and begin or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Belfast, ME?
To begin, the Belfast, ME family member who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen needs to file Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation needed for sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad must remain waiting until visas are obtainable based on their application date and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can apply for their status to be adjusted by filing forms including I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member is given preference classification, all of which have annual limits. First Preference, or F1, for example is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Many Belfast, ME applicants end up waiting for years or even decades for family preference green cards to be available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Belfast, ME?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and hard work and in-depth expertise. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can vary significantly which varies based on your nationality and your preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. 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. Family immigration lawyers near you in Belfast, ME can assist with all the required paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Your Belfast, Maine immigration attorney can assist you in complying with constantly changing laws and regulations and understand complicated documents. They have a grasp of application timetables and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can reduce wait times, undergo a more seamless process, and boost your likelihood of success.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Belfast, ME Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Belfast, ME. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We're eager to assist with your and your family's immigration necessities. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee the same results.