Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Stockton, MD
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables certain relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Stockton, MD and all of the United States. If someone is a U.S. citizen, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For lawful permanent residents, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your Stockton, MD family green card lawyer can help your family decide the correct type of green card category, helping you reunite with your family and build or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Stockton, MD Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To start, the family member in Stockton, MD who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship that qualifies for the sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member who lives abroad has to stand by for visas to be available dependent on the date of submission and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can request a status adjustment by filing forms including I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible is assigned a preference category, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. 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. It's common for Stockton, MD applicants to wait for many years and, in some cases, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Stockton, MD?
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates substantial work and legal understanding. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can differ based on where you're immigrating from and your preference category. However, some have reported fifteen-year or more wait for an F4 (sibling) visa. When you face this kind of potential delay, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with all of your correct data . A family immigration attorney in Stockton, MD can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Stockton, MD immigration lawyers can assist you in complying with ever-changing laws and regulations and comprehend intricate documentation. They understand the application timelines and can help you or your family members prepare 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 improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Stockton, MD as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Stockton, MD. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and many of our team members are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys 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 help with your and your family member's immigration needs. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.