Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Preston, MD
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes certain relatives of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to themselves become permanent residents in Preston, MD and the rest of the U.S. For those who are U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. with this category of green card include children, spouses and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. Your Preston, MD family green card lawyer can help you determine the most fitting category of green card, helping your family to reconnect and begin or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Preston, MD?
To begin, the Preston, MD family member who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship necessary for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member outside the United States are required to wait for visas to become available depending on when they applied and the current visa limits imposed by law. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can request a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member is assigned a preference category, all of which have annual limits. First Preference, or F1, for example is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Often, Preston, MD applicants have to wait for years or in many instances, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Preston, MD?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires significant efforts and legal understanding. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can change considerably depending on your country of origin and your preference category. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, visas. With that kind of waiting period, you must apply as early as possible and with the utmost accuracy. Family immigration lawyers near you in Preston, MD can assist with all the required paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Immigration lawyers in Preston, MD can assist you with understanding regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the tight application timeline and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Preston, MD as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Preston, MD. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're ready 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.