North Windham, ME Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specific relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to gain permanent residency in North Windham, ME and all of the United States. For U.S. citizens, 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). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include unmarried children and spouses.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. Your North Windham, ME family green card lawyer can assist your family in determining the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping you reunite with your family and build or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do North Windham, ME Family-Based Green Cards Work?
First, the North Windham, ME family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident has to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who is out of the country must remain waiting until visas are obtainable based on their application date and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can petition for a status adjustment by filing forms including I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member falls into a category of preference, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is designated for unmarried children who are 21 or older of United States citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Many North Windham, ME applicants end up waiting for years or in many instances, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in North Windham, ME?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and substantial work and particular know-how. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can fluctuate substantially which varies based on your nationality and your designated preference category. However, some have reported fifteen-year or more wait for an F4 (sibling) visa. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, you must apply as early as possible and with complete accuracy. A family immigration attorney in North Windham, ME can help you with the documentation and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Immigration lawyers in North Windham, ME can assist you in complying with constantly changing laws and regulations and interpret complex documentation. They know the application’s schedules and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can reduce wait times, benefit from a smoother experience, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in North Windham, ME as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in North Windham, ME. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers will assist your family through the legal immigration system and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We’re here to help with your and your family's immigration necessities. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.