Baltimore, MD Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables certain relatives of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to themselves become permanent residents in Baltimore, MD and the rest of the U.S. For U.S. citizens, family members that can come 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 those who are lawful permanent residents, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Baltimore, MD can help your family decide the right green card category to pursue, helping you reunite with your family and build or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Baltimore, MD Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To get started, the family member located in Baltimore, MD who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection that qualifies for the sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who is not in the United States has to stand by for visas to be available 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 a status adjustment through forms that include the I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible is given preference classification, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. Baltimore, MD applicants often wait for years or in many instances, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Baltimore, MD
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and substantial work and particular know-how. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can differ which varies based on your nationality and your assigned preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. With this kind of potential wait, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with complete accuracy. Your Baltimore, MD family immigration lawyer can help you present the requisite documents and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Your Baltimore, Maryland immigration attorney can assist you in complying with constantly changing laws and regulations and interpret complex documentation. They understand the application timelines and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can reduce wait times, experience a smoother application, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Baltimore, MD
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Baltimore, MD. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers can help your family navigate the legal immigration process and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We're eager to assist with your and your family member's immigration needs. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.