Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in California, MD
A Family Preference Green Card permits specific relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to gain permanent residency in California, MD and the rest of the U.S. If someone is a U.S. citizen, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this category of green card include spouses, children and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include unmarried children and spouses.
Family preference green cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. Your California, MD family green card lawyer can help you to decide the most fitting category of green card, reconnecting you with your family so you can establish or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do California, MD Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To begin, the California, MD family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation needed for sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who lives abroad must remain waiting until visas are obtainable depending on when they applied and the current visa limits imposed by law. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can petition for a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member has a defined preference categorization, which each have their own annual limits. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is designated for unmarried children who are 21 or older of United States citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Often, California, MD applicants have to wait for years or in some cases, even decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in California, MD?
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates consistent effort and legal knowledge. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can change considerably based on where you're immigrating from and your assigned preference category. However, some have reported fifteen-year or more wait for an F4 (sibling) visa. With that kind of waiting period, it's imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with complete accuracy. A family immigration attorney in California, MD can assist with all the required paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Your California, Maryland immigration attorney can assist you with understanding constantly changing laws and regulations and understand complicated documents. They know the application’s schedules and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can minimize delays, undergo a more seamless process, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your California, MD Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in California, MD. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and many of our team members are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers can guide your family through the immigration procedures and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We’re here to help with your and your family member's immigration needs. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.