Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Richmond, ME
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes specific relatives of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to gain permanent residency in Richmond, ME and the United States in general. With U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. under this type of green card include children, spouses 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.
Family preference green cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. A family green card attorney in Richmond, ME can help you to decide the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping your family to reconnect and begin and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Richmond, ME?
To get started, the family member located in Richmond, ME who is a US citizen or permanent resident has to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship necessary for the sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member outside the United States are required to wait for visas to become available depending on when they applied and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the family member is legally in the United States, they can request a status adjustment by filing forms including I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible is assigned a preference category, which all have individual annual caps. For example, First Preference, or F1, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. Often, Richmond, ME applicants have to wait for years or in some cases, even decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Immigration Lawyer in Richmond, ME?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and consistent effort and legal understanding. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can change considerably based on where you're immigrating from and your assigned preference category. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, visas. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with complete accuracy. Family immigration lawyers near you in Richmond, ME can assist with all the required paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Richmond, ME immigration lawyers can assist you in complying with regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They have a grasp of application timetables and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can minimize delays, experience a smoother application, and boost your likelihood of success.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Richmond, ME Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Richmond, ME. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys will assist your family through the legal immigration system and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We're ready to help with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.