Yarmouth, ME Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card permits certain relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents of Yarmouth, ME, and the entire United States. For those who are U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For those who are lawful permanent residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants have a different path from green cards for immediate family members, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Yarmouth, ME can help your family decide the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping your family to reconnect and build or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Yarmouth, ME Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To begin, the Yarmouth, ME family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who is not in the United States must remain waiting until visas are obtainable based on their application date and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted through form I-485 and others.
Each eligible type of relative is assigned a preference category, all of which have annual limits. First Preference, or F1, for example is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. It's common for Yarmouth, ME applicants to wait for many years or in many instances, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Yarmouth, ME?
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates significant efforts and particular know-how. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially which varies based on your nationality and your designated preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. With this kind of potential wait, it's imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with accurate information. A family immigration attorney in Yarmouth, ME can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Yarmouth, ME immigration lawyers can assist you in complying with ever-changing laws and regulations and clarify confusing paperwork. They have a grasp of application timetables and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can minimize delays, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Yarmouth, ME Family Immigration Lawyer
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Yarmouth, ME. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and many of our team members are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys can help your family navigate the legal immigration process as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're ready to assist with your and your family's immigration necessities. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee the same results.