Hagerstown, MD Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows specific relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents of Hagerstown, MD, and the United States in general. If someone is a U.S. citizen, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this category of green card include children, spouses and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include unmarried children no matter what age, and spouses.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference have a different path from green cards for immediate family members, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Hagerstown, MD can help your family decide the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping your family to reconnect and create or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Hagerstown, MD Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To begin, the Hagerstown, MD family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection that qualifies for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member outside the United States must wait for visas to become accessible based on the date they apply and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can apply for their status to be adjusted through forms that include the I-485.
Each category of eligible relative is given preference classification, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Hagerstown, MD applicants often wait for years or even decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Hagerstown, MD?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires significant efforts and in-depth expertise. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, 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 this kind of potential wait, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with complete accuracy. Hagerstown, MD family immigration attorneys can assist with all the required paperwork and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
An immigration attorney in Hagerstown, MD can assist you in complying with 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 legal representation on your side, you can minimize delays, benefit from a smoother experience, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Hagerstown, MD: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Hagerstown, MD. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our multicultural, multilingual team will assist your family through the legal immigration system and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're eager to assist with all of your immigration requirements. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.