South Portland, ME Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Family Preference Green Card permits specified family members of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in South Portland, ME and the United States in general. For U.S. citizens, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. with this green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference green cards do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney in South Portland, ME can assist your family in determining the most fitting category of green card, helping you reunite with your family and establish or expand your life in the U.S. together.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in South Portland, ME?
To get started, the family member located in South Portland, ME who is a US citizen or permanent resident has to file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation necessary for the sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, 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 request for their immigration status to be adjusted with various forms including I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member is assigned a preference category, which each have their own annual limits. First Preference, or F1, for example is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. South Portland, ME applicants often wait for years or in some cases, even decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in South Portland, ME
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires substantial work and in-depth expertise. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially which varies based on your nationality and your preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with accurate information. South Portland, ME family immigration attorneys can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
South Portland, ME immigration lawyers can also help you navigate constantly changing laws and regulations and understand complicated documents. They understand the tight application timeline and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, enjoy a more streamlined process, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in South Portland, ME: Your Family Immigration Attorney
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in South Portland, ME. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and many of our team members are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're ready to assist with all of your immigration requirements. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.