Damascus, MD Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specified family members of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Damascus, MD and the United States in general. With U.S. citizens, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. with this green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). For those who are lawful permanent residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference green cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your Damascus, MD family green card lawyer can help your family decide the correct type of green card category, reconnecting you with your family so you can build or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Damascus, MD Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To begin, the Damascus, MD family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation needed for sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member who is not in the United States are required to wait for visas to become available based on their application date and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted through form I-485 and others.
Each category of eligible relative falls into a category of preference, all of which have annual limits. First Preference, or F1, for example 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. It's common for Damascus, MD applicants to wait for many years or in some cases, even decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Damascus, MD?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and substantial work and in-depth expertise. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially based on where you're immigrating from and your assigned preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. With that kind of waiting period, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with accurate information. A family immigration attorney in Damascus, MD can help you present the requisite documents and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Damascus, MD immigration lawyers can assist you with understanding constantly changing laws and regulations and clarify confusing paperwork. They have a grasp of application timetables and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can reduce wait times, enjoy a more streamlined process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Damascus, MD: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Damascus, MD. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual team can help your family navigate the legal immigration process and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* 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 the same results.