Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in Lewiston, ME
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables certain relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents of Lewiston, ME, and the rest of the U.S. With U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants have a different path from green cards for immediate family members, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. Your Lewiston, ME family green card lawyer can help your family decide the right green card category to pursue, helping you unite with your family to begin or advance your lives together in the U.S.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Lewiston, ME?
To get started, the family member located in Lewiston, ME who is a US citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection required for sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who is not in the United States must wait for visas to become accessible based on the date they apply and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can petition for a status adjustment through form I-485 and others.
Each eligible type of relative has a defined preference categorization, all of which have annual limits. First Preference, or F1, for example is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. It's common for Lewiston, ME applicants to wait for many years or even decades for family preference green cards to be available.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Lewiston, ME?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and substantial work and legal understanding. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially which varies based on your nationality and your designated preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. When you face this kind of potential delay, you must apply as early as possible and with the utmost accuracy. Family immigration lawyers near you in Lewiston, ME can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Your Lewiston, Maine immigration attorney can assist you with understanding regulations and laws that change regularly and clarify confusing paperwork. They understand the application timelines and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, experience a smoother application, and boost your likelihood of success.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Lewiston, ME
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Lewiston, ME. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're ready to assist with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee the same results.