Athol, MA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card permits certain relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents of Athol, MA, and all of the United States. With U.S. citizens, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For lawful permanent residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include unmarried children and spouses.
Family preference permanent resident cards do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. Your Athol, MA family green card lawyer can assist your family in determining the correct type of green card category, helping your family to reconnect and create and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Athol, MA Family-Based Green Cards Work?
First, the Athol, MA family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who is out of the country must wait for visas to become accessible 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 with various forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative is given preference classification, which all have individual annual caps. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is designated for unmarried children who are 21 or older of United States citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Often, Athol, MA applicants have to wait for years or in many instances, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Immigration Lawyer in Athol, MA?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires hard work and legal knowledge. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can change considerably depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your assigned preference category. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, visas. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with accurate information. Your Athol, MA family immigration lawyer can help you with the documentation and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
An immigration attorney in Athol, MA can assist you in complying with laws and regulations that change constantly and understand complicated documents. They have a grasp of application timetables and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can shorten potential delays, benefit from a smoother experience, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Athol, MA: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Athol, MA. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual team will assist your family through the legal immigration system and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're eager to assist with your and your family member's immigration needs. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.