Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in Lake Shore, MD
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes particular family members of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Lake Shore, MD and the entire United States. With U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. with this type of green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). For lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include unmarried children and spouses.
Family preference permanent resident cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. Family green card attorneys in Lake Shore, MD can help your family decide the most fitting category of green card, helping you unite with your family to create or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Lake Shore, MD?
To begin, the Lake Shore, MD family member who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection that qualifies for the sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who is out of the country are required to wait for visas to become available based on the date they apply and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can petition for a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative falls into a category of preference, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. As an example, F1, or 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. Many Lake Shore, MD applicants end up waiting for years or in some cases, even decades for family preference green cards to be available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Lake Shore, MD?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and substantial work and legal knowledge. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can change considerably based on where you're immigrating from and your assigned preference category. However, some have reported fifteen-year or more wait for an F4 (sibling) visa. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, you must apply as early as possible and with the utmost accuracy. A family immigration attorney in Lake Shore, MD can help you present the requisite documents and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
An immigration attorney in Lake Shore, MD can assist you with understanding laws and regulations that change constantly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the application timelines and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can reduce wait times, experience a smoother application, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Lake Shore, MD: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When applying for a family-based green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Lake Shore, MD. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys 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 your and your family member's immigration needs. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.