Salisbury, MD Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows specific relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Salisbury, MD and all of the United States. With U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. under this type of green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For lawful permanent residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Salisbury, MD can help you to decide the most fitting category of green card, helping your family to reconnect and build and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Salisbury, MD Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To start, the family member in Salisbury, MD who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen has to file Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation needed for sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who is not in the United States must remain waiting until visas are obtainable based on their application date and the current visa limits imposed by law. If the applying relative is already in the United States 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 each have their own annual limits. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. Many Salisbury, MD applicants end up waiting for years and, in some cases, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Salisbury, MD?
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates consistent effort and in-depth expertise. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly based on where you're immigrating from and your designated preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. When you face this kind of potential delay, it's imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with complete accuracy. Your Salisbury, MD family immigration lawyer can assist with all the required paperwork and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Salisbury, MD immigration lawyers can also help you navigate laws and regulations that change constantly and clarify confusing paperwork. They know the application’s schedules and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, enjoy a more streamlined process, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Salisbury, MD: Your Family Immigration Attorney
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Salisbury, MD. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers can help your family navigate the legal immigration process 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. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.