Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in West Kennebunk, ME
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows particular family members of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to become permanent residents of West Kennebunk, ME, and the United States in general. With U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. with this green card include children, spouses and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For those who are lawful permanent residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference permanent resident cards are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your West Kennebunk, ME family green card lawyer can help you to decide the right green card category to pursue, helping you unite with your family to create and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in West Kennebunk, ME?
To begin, the West Kennebunk, ME family member who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident has to file Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation necessary for the sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member outside the United States are required to wait for visas to become available depending on when they applied and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can request a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Each eligible type of relative has a defined preference categorization, which each have their own annual limits. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Often, West Kennebunk, ME applicants have to wait for years or in some cases, even decades for family preference green cards to open up.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in West Kennebunk, ME
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates substantial work and legal knowledge. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can change considerably depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your 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 all of your correct data . Your West Kennebunk, ME family immigration lawyer can help you with the documentation and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
West Kennebunk, ME immigration lawyers can also help you navigate laws and regulations that change constantly and comprehend intricate documentation. They understand the application timelines 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, experience a smoother application, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in West Kennebunk, ME: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When applying for a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in West Kennebunk, ME. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys can help your family navigate the legal immigration process and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're ready to help with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.