Galena, MD Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes particular family members of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to become permanent residents of Galena, MD, and all of the United States. With U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your Galena, MD family green card lawyer can help you to decide the correct type of green card category, helping your family to reconnect and begin and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Galena, MD?
To get started, the family member located in Galena, MD who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen files Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection needed for sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member who is not in the United States must wait for visas to become accessible dependent on the date of submission and the current visa limits imposed by law. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted by filing forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative is given preference classification, all of which have annual limits. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is designated for unmarried children who are 21 or older of United States citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Often, Galena, MD applicants have to wait for years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Galena, MD?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires hard work and legal knowledge. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can vary significantly depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your assigned preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. When you face this kind of potential delay, you must apply as early as possible and with all of your correct data . A family immigration attorney in Galena, MD can help you present the requisite documents and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Galena, MD immigration lawyers can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the application timelines and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you can minimize delays, undergo a more seamless process, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Galena, MD
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Galena, MD. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. 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 eager to assist 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.