Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in Joppa, MD
A Family Preference Green Card permits specific relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Joppa, MD and all of the United States. For U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this type of green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). 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.
Family preference permanent resident cards have a different path from green cards for immediate family members, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Family green card attorneys in Joppa, MD can help your family decide the correct type of green card category, helping you reunite with your family and begin or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Joppa, MD?
To get started, the family member located in Joppa, MD who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection needed for sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member who is not in the United States has to stand by for visas to be available based on their application date and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can apply for their status to be adjusted through form I-485 and others.
Each eligible type of relative has a defined preference categorization, which all have individual annual caps. First Preference, or F1, for example 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. Often, Joppa, MD applicants have to wait for years or even decades for family preference green cards to be available.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Immigration Lawyer in Joppa, MD?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and substantial work and in-depth expertise. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can differ depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your assigned preference category. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, visas. With this kind of potential wait, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with complete accuracy. Joppa, MD family immigration attorneys can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
An immigration attorney in Joppa, MD can help you understand the laws and regulations that change constantly and clarify confusing paperwork. They know the application’s schedules and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can shorten potential delays, undergo a more seamless process, and boost your likelihood of success.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Joppa, MD: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Joppa, MD. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual team will assist your family through the legal immigration system and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We're eager to assist with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.