Lonaconing, MD Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes certain relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Lonaconing, MD and the rest of the U.S. If someone is a U.S. citizen, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For those who are lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference green cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. A family green card attorney near you in Lonaconing, MD can assist your family in determining the most fitting category of green card, reconnecting you with your family so you can establish or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Lonaconing, MD?
First, the Lonaconing, MD family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who is not in the United States must wait for visas to become accessible based on the date they apply and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can request a status adjustment through form I-485 and others.
Each category of eligible relative falls into a category of preference, which all have individual annual caps. For example, First Preference, or F1, is designated for unmarried children who are 21 or older of United States citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Many Lonaconing, MD applicants end up waiting for years and, in some cases, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Immigration Lawyer in Lonaconing, MD?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires consistent effort and legal knowledge. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially which varies based on your nationality and your preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with complete accuracy. Your Lonaconing, MD family immigration lawyer can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Immigration lawyers in Lonaconing, MD can also help you navigate ever-changing laws and regulations and understand complicated documents. They understand the application timelines and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can minimize delays, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Lonaconing, MD
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Lonaconing, MD. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and many of our team members are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. 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 your and your family's immigration necessities. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.