Hinckley, 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 themselves become permanent residents in Hinckley, ME and the entire United States. If someone is a U.S. citizen, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this category 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, 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 Hinckley, ME family green card lawyer can help your family decide the correct type of green card category, helping you reunite with your family and create and continue your life together in the United States.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Hinckley, ME?
To start, the family member in Hinckley, ME who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen has to file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship required for sponsorship. When USCIS later 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 yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the family member is legally in the United States, they can petition for a status adjustment by filing forms including I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible has a defined preference categorization, which all have individual annual caps. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. Many Hinckley, ME applicants end up waiting for years or in many instances, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Hinckley, ME
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates consistent effort and particular know-how. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can differ based on where you're immigrating from and which preference category you belong to. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. With this kind of potential wait, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with the utmost accuracy. Family immigration lawyers near you in Hinckley, ME can help you present the requisite documents and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Your Hinckley, Maine immigration attorney can help you understand the laws and regulations that change constantly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the application timelines and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can minimize delays, enjoy a more streamlined process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Hinckley, ME: Your Family Immigration Attorney
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Hinckley, ME. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. 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 all of your immigration requirements. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.