Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Bowdoinham, ME
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes specific relatives of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to be granted permanent residence in Bowdoinham, ME and all of the United States. For those who are U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this type of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For those who are lawful permanent residents, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference permanent resident cards do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your Bowdoinham, ME family green card lawyer can help your family decide the correct type of green card category, helping your family to reconnect and build and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Bowdoinham, ME Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To get started, the family member located in Bowdoinham, ME who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection needed for sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who is not in the United States has to stand by for visas to be available based on the date they apply and the current visa limits imposed by law. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can petition for a status adjustment through form I-485 and others.
Every eligible kind of family member is given preference classification, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. Many Bowdoinham, ME applicants end up waiting for years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Bowdoinham, ME?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires significant efforts and legal understanding. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can differ depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your preference category. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, visas. With this kind of potential wait, you must apply as early as possible and with the utmost accuracy. Family immigration lawyers near you in Bowdoinham, ME can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Immigration lawyers in Bowdoinham, ME can help you understand the ever-changing laws and regulations and comprehend intricate documentation. They understand the application timelines and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you can reduce wait times, undergo a more seamless process, and boost your likelihood of success.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Bowdoinham, 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 Bowdoinham, 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 attorneys can help your family navigate the legal immigration process as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're ready to help with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.