Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in Kettering, MD
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specified family members of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to become permanent residents of Kettering, MD, and the entire United States. With U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For those who are lawful permanent residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference green cards have a different path from green cards for immediate family members, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. Your Kettering, MD family green card lawyer can help your family decide the right green card category to pursue, helping your family to reconnect and establish or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Kettering, MD?
To begin, the Kettering, MD family member who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen has to file Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation required for sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad are required to wait for visas to become available dependent on the date of submission and the current visa limits imposed by law. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can apply for their status to be adjusted with various forms including I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member is assigned a preference category, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. It's common for Kettering, MD applicants to wait for many years or in some cases, even decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Kettering, MD?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and consistent effort and legal understanding. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially depending on your country of origin and which preference category you belong to. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, visas. With this kind of potential wait, you must apply as early as possible and with the utmost accuracy. Family immigration lawyers near you in Kettering, MD can help you with the documentation and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Kettering, MD immigration lawyers can assist you in complying with regulations and laws that change regularly and understand complicated documents. They have a grasp of application timetables and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can minimize delays, benefit from a smoother experience, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Kettering, MD
When applying for a family-based green card, pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Kettering, MD. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and many of our team members are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* 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.