Bellingham, MA Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes particular family members of United States citizens and permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Bellingham, MA and the entire United States. For U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this green card include spouses, children and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For lawful permanent residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your Bellingham, MA family green card lawyer can help you determine the most fitting category of green card, helping your family to reconnect and begin or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Bellingham, MA?
To start, the family member in Bellingham, MA who is a US citizen or permanent resident has to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection necessary for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who is out of the country are required to wait for visas to become available depending on when they applied and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. 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.
Every relative type who is eligible falls into a category of preference, which all have individual annual caps. 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. It's common for Bellingham, MA applicants to wait for many years and, in some cases, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Bellingham, MA?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and consistent effort and legal knowledge. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly which varies based on your nationality and your designated preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. With that kind of waiting period, you must apply as early as possible and with accurate information. Your Bellingham, MA family immigration lawyer can help you present the requisite documents and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Your Bellingham, Massachusetts immigration attorney can also help you navigate laws and regulations that change constantly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the tight application timeline and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can reduce wait times, experience a smoother application, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Bellingham, MA Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Bellingham, MA. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. 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 assist with your and your family member's immigration needs. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.