York Harbor, ME Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables certain relatives of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to become permanent residents of York Harbor, ME, and the rest of the U.S. For U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For lawful permanent residents, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. Family green card attorneys in York Harbor, ME can help your family decide the correct type of green card category, helping you unite with your family to build and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in York Harbor, ME?
First, the York Harbor, ME family member who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen 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 outside the United States has to stand by for visas to be available dependent on the date of submission and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can petition for a status adjustment through forms that include the I-485.
Each category of eligible relative falls into a category of preference, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. First Preference, or F1, for example is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. Often, York Harbor, ME applicants have to wait for years and, in some cases, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in York Harbor, ME?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and hard work and in-depth expertise. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly based on where 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 imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with the utmost accuracy. A family immigration attorney in York Harbor, ME can assist with all the required paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Your York Harbor, Maine immigration attorney can assist you with understanding constantly changing laws and regulations and interpret complex documentation. They know the application’s schedules 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 boost your likelihood of success.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in York Harbor, ME
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in York Harbor, 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 team can help your family navigate the legal immigration process as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're ready to help with your and your family's immigration necessities. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.