Derwood, MD Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specified family members of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Derwood, MD and the rest of the U.S. For those who are U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, the family members who may qualify 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 meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Derwood, MD can help you to decide the correct type of green card category, helping you unite with your family to begin or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Derwood, MD?
To begin, the Derwood, MD family member who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident must file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation necessary for the sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member who is out of the country must wait for visas to become accessible dependent on the date of submission and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can petition for a status adjustment through forms that include the I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member is assigned a preference category, which each have their own annual limits. For example, First Preference, or F1, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. It's common for Derwood, MD applicants to wait for many years or in some cases, even decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Derwood, MD?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and consistent effort and legal understanding. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly 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 that kind of waiting period, it's imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with accurate information. Your Derwood, MD family immigration lawyer can help you with the documentation and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Immigration lawyers in Derwood, MD can assist you with understanding laws and regulations that change constantly and interpret complex documentation. They know the application’s schedules and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you can shorten potential delays, experience a smoother application, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Derwood, MD: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Derwood, MD. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We’re here to help with your and your family member's immigration needs. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.