Riva, MD Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows particular family members of United States citizens and permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Riva, 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 green card include spouses, children and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For those who are lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference green cards are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your Riva, MD family green card lawyer can help you to decide the correct type of green card category, helping you unite with your family to begin or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Riva, MD?
To start, the family member in Riva, MD who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection necessary for the sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member outside the United States has to stand by for visas to be available based on the date they apply and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can apply for their status to be adjusted by filing forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative has a defined preference categorization, which all have individual annual caps. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. It's common for Riva, MD applicants to wait for many years or in some cases, even decades for family preference green cards to open up.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Riva, MD?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and hard work and particular know-how. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can differ depending on your country of origin and which preference category you belong to. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. With this kind of potential wait, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with the utmost accuracy. Riva, MD family immigration attorneys can help you with the documentation and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Immigration lawyers in Riva, MD can help you understand the regulations and laws that change regularly and comprehend intricate documentation. They understand the tight application timeline and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can shorten potential delays, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Riva, MD: Your Family Immigration Attorney
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Riva, MD. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our multicultural, multilingual team will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We're ready to help with your and your family's immigration necessities. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.