Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Searsport, ME
A Family Preference Green Card permits specific relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Searsport, ME and the entire United States. For those who are U.S. citizens, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For lawful permanent residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Searsport, ME can help your family decide the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping you reunite with your family and build and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Searsport, ME Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To get started, the family member located in Searsport, ME who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship necessary for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad are required to wait for visas to become available based on their application date and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can apply for their status to be adjusted through form I-485 and others.
Every eligible kind of family member is assigned a preference category, which all have individual annual caps. For example, First Preference, or F1, is designated for unmarried children who are 21 or older of United States citizens. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. Searsport, ME applicants often wait for years or even decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Searsport, ME?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and consistent effort and in-depth expertise. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly depending on the country you’re immigrating from and which preference category you belong to. However, some have reported fifteen-year or more wait for an F4 (sibling) visa. With this kind of potential wait, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with accurate information. Searsport, ME family immigration attorneys can help you present the requisite documents and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Searsport, ME immigration lawyers can help you understand the ever-changing laws and regulations and understand complicated documents. They know the application’s schedules and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you can reduce wait times, enjoy a more streamlined process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Searsport, ME
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Searsport, ME. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. 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 ready to help with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.