Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in Chesapeake Beach, MD
A Family Preference Green Card permits certain relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Chesapeake Beach, MD and the United States in general. For those who are U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. under this type of green card include children, spouses and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include unmarried children and spouses.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney in Chesapeake Beach, MD can assist your family in determining the most fitting category of green card, helping you reunite with your family and begin or expand your life in the U.S. together.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Chesapeake Beach, MD?
To begin, the Chesapeake Beach, MD family member who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation necessary for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad must remain waiting until visas are obtainable based on their application date and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can request a status adjustment by filing forms including I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible is given preference classification, which all have individual annual caps. For example, First Preference, or F1, is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Often, Chesapeake Beach, MD applicants have to wait for years or even decades for family preference green cards to open up.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Immigration Lawyer in Chesapeake Beach, MD?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and significant efforts and legal knowledge. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can change considerably depending on your country of origin and which preference category you belong to. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with accurate information. A family immigration attorney in Chesapeake Beach, MD can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Immigration lawyers in Chesapeake Beach, MD can also help you navigate laws and regulations that change constantly and comprehend intricate documentation. They understand the tight application timeline and can help your family get ready for eventual 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.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Chesapeake Beach, MD: Your Family Immigration Attorney
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Chesapeake Beach, MD. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our multicultural, multilingual team 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 all of your family's legal immigration needs. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.