Brockton, MA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specific relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Brockton, MA and the entire United States. For those who are U.S. citizens, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. with this type of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). For lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include unmarried children and spouses.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney in Brockton, MA can help your family decide 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 Family-Based Green Cards Work in Brockton, MA?
First, the Brockton, MA family member who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident has to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship required for sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member outside the United States 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 request for their immigration status to be adjusted by filing forms including I-485.
Each eligible type of relative is assigned a preference category, which each have their own annual limits. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. Brockton, MA applicants often wait for years or in many instances, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Brockton, MA?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires hard work and in-depth expertise. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can differ depending on your country of origin and your preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with complete accuracy. A family immigration attorney in Brockton, MA can help you present the requisite documents and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Your Brockton, Massachusetts immigration attorney can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and clarify confusing paperwork. They understand the application timelines and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Brockton, MA: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Brockton, MA. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers will assist your family through the legal immigration system and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're ready to assist with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.