Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Orchard Beach, MD
A Family Preference Green Card permits specified family members of United States citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents of Orchard Beach, MD, and the United States in general. For those who are U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. with this category of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Orchard Beach, MD can help your family decide the appropriate category of green card to apply for, reconnecting you with your family so you can begin and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Orchard Beach, MD Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To begin, the Orchard Beach, MD family member who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen must file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection needed for sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member outside the United States are required to wait for visas to become available based on the date they apply and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can apply for their status to be adjusted through forms that include the I-485.
Each eligible type of relative falls into a category of preference, which each have their own annual limits. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is designated for unmarried children who are 21 or older of United States citizens. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. Orchard Beach, MD applicants often wait for years or in some cases, even decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Orchard Beach, MD
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and substantial work and legal knowledge. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially which varies based on your nationality and your designated preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. With this kind of potential wait, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with all of your correct data . Your Orchard Beach, MD family immigration lawyer can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Orchard Beach, MD immigration lawyers can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They know the application’s schedules and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can shorten potential delays, experience a smoother application, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Orchard Beach, MD as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Orchard Beach, MD. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual team can help your family navigate the legal immigration process and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We're ready to help with your and your family member's immigration needs. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.