Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Ocean City, MD
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes particular family members of United States citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Ocean City, MD and the United States in general. With U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this green card include spouses, children and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For lawful permanent residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include unmarried children no matter what age, and spouses.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants 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 Ocean City, MD family green card lawyer can help your family decide the appropriate category of green card to apply for, 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 Ocean City, MD?
To get started, the family member located in Ocean City, MD who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship necessary for the sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member outside the United States has to stand by for visas to be available depending on when they applied and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can request a status adjustment through forms that include the I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible is given preference classification, which each have their own annual limits. First Preference, or F1, for example 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. Often, Ocean City, MD applicants have to wait for years or in many instances, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Ocean City, MD?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires hard work and in-depth expertise. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for 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 accurate information. Ocean City, MD family immigration attorneys can assist with all the required paperwork and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Ocean City, MD immigration lawyers can assist you in complying with laws and regulations that change constantly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the tight application timeline 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 improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Ocean City, MD
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Ocean City, MD. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and many of our team members are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our multicultural, multilingual team will assist your family through the legal immigration system as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We’re here to help with your and your family's immigration necessities. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.