Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in Camden, ME
A Family Preference Green Card permits particular family members of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Camden, ME and all of the United States. If someone is a U.S. citizen, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For those who are lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference green cards are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Camden, ME can help your family decide the correct type of green card category, reconnecting you with your family so you can begin or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Camden, ME?
First, the Camden, ME family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation required for sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad must wait for visas to become accessible dependent on the date of submission and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can petition for a status adjustment through form I-485 and others.
Every relative type who is eligible is given preference classification, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. For example, First Preference, or F1, 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. Camden, ME applicants often wait for years and, in some cases, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Camden, ME
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires hard work and particular know-how. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. With that kind of waiting period, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with the utmost accuracy. Your Camden, ME family immigration lawyer can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
An immigration attorney in Camden, ME can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and understand complicated documents. They understand the application timelines and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you can minimize delays, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Camden, ME as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When applying for a family-based green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Camden, ME. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers can guide your family through the immigration procedures and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We’re here to help with your and your family member's immigration needs. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.