Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in White Plains, MD
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specific relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to gain permanent residency in White Plains, MD and the entire United States. With U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this type of green card include minor and adult children, spouses 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, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference permanent resident cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney in White Plains, MD can help you determine the most fitting category of green card, helping your family to reconnect and establish or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in White Plains, MD?
To get started, the family member located in White Plains, MD who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member outside the United States must wait for visas to become accessible depending on when they applied and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted by filing forms including I-485.
Each eligible type of relative has a defined preference categorization, which each have their own annual limits. For example, First Preference, or F1, 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. Many White Plains, 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 White Plains, MD?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and substantial work and legal knowledge. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can differ depending on the country you’re immigrating from 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, you must apply as early as possible and with all of your correct data . A family immigration attorney in White Plains, MD can assist with all the required paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
An immigration attorney in White Plains, MD can also help you navigate ever-changing laws and regulations and comprehend intricate documentation. They know the application’s schedules and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can minimize delays, enjoy a more streamlined process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in White Plains, MD as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in White Plains, MD. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and many of our team members are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're ready to help with your and your family's immigration necessities. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.