Houlton, ME Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Family Preference Green Card permits particular family members of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to become permanent residents of Houlton, ME, and the entire United States. If someone is a U.S. citizen, family members that can be brought to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). For lawful permanent residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference green 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 Houlton, ME family green card lawyer can help you to decide the most fitting category of green card, helping you reunite with your family and begin and continue your life together in the United States.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Houlton, ME?
To begin, the Houlton, ME family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member who is not in the United States has to stand by for visas to be available depending on when they applied and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the family member is legally in the United States, they can apply for their status to be adjusted through form I-485 and others.
Every eligible kind of family member is given preference classification, which each have their own annual limits. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. It's common for Houlton, ME applicants to wait for many years or even decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Houlton, ME
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and significant efforts and legal understanding. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can fluctuate substantially based on where you're immigrating from and your preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. With that kind of waiting period, you must apply as early as possible and with all of your correct data . Family immigration lawyers near you in Houlton, ME can assist with all the required paperwork and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
An immigration attorney in Houlton, ME can also help you navigate ever-changing laws and regulations and understand complicated documents. 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 may be able to get the visa much quicker, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Houlton, ME
When applying for a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Houlton, ME. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and many of our team members are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual team will assist your family through the legal immigration system as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're ready to help with all of your immigration requirements. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.