Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Elkridge, MD
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows certain relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Elkridge, MD and the entire United States. For U.S. citizens, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. under this type of green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For lawful permanent residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference permanent resident cards are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. Family green card attorneys in Elkridge, MD can help your family decide the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping you unite with your family to build and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Elkridge, MD?
To begin, the Elkridge, MD family member who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation needed for sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who is out of the country are required to wait for visas to become available dependent on the date of submission and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. 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 has a defined preference categorization, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. For example, First Preference, or F1, 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 Elkridge, MD applicants to wait for many years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Elkridge, MD?
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates substantial work and particular know-how. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly based on where you're immigrating from 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 critical that you file as soon as you can and with the utmost accuracy. A family immigration attorney in Elkridge, MD can help you with the documentation and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
An immigration attorney in Elkridge, MD can also help you navigate laws and regulations that change constantly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the tight application timeline and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can minimize delays, benefit from a smoother experience, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Elkridge, MD as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When applying for a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Elkridge, MD. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual team can help your family navigate the legal immigration process as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're eager to assist with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee the same results.