Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in Portland, ME
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes particular family members of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to gain permanent residency in Portland, ME and all of the United States. With U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this category of green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include unmarried children and spouses.
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 Portland, ME family green card lawyer can help you to decide the right green card category to pursue, helping you reunite with your family and build and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Portland, ME?
To start, the family member in Portland, ME who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident has to file Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship that qualifies for the sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member outside the United States must wait for visas to become accessible based on their application date and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted with various forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative is given preference classification, which each have their own annual limits. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. It's common for Portland, ME applicants to wait for many years or even decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Portland, ME
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires substantial work and particular know-how. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can differ depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your assigned preference category. However, some have reported fifteen-year or more wait for an F4 (sibling) visa. With this kind of potential wait, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with all of your correct data . Family immigration lawyers near you in Portland, ME can help you present the requisite documents and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Portland, ME immigration lawyers can help you understand the constantly changing laws and regulations and interpret complex documentation. They understand the tight application timeline and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can shorten potential delays, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Portland, ME Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Portland, ME. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and many of our team members are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We’re here to help with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee the same results.