Burlington, MA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows certain relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Burlington, MA and the United States in general. If someone is a U.S. citizen, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this category of green card include spouses, children and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For lawful permanent residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference green cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. Your Burlington, MA family green card lawyer can assist your family in determining the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping you unite with your family to begin or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Burlington, MA Family-Based Green Cards Work?
First, the Burlington, MA family member who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen needs to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection that qualifies for the sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member who is not in the United States must wait for visas to become accessible depending on when they applied and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can apply for their status to be adjusted by filing forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative has a defined preference categorization, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. It's common for Burlington, MA applicants to wait for many years or even decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Burlington, MA?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and substantial work and legal knowledge. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can change considerably which varies based on your nationality and your assigned preference category. However, some have reported fifteen-year or more wait for an F4 (sibling) visa. With that kind of waiting period, it's imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with the utmost accuracy. Family immigration lawyers near you in Burlington, MA can assist with all the required paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Immigration lawyers in Burlington, MA can help you understand the constantly changing laws and regulations and understand complicated documents. They understand the tight application timeline 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, enjoy a more streamlined process, and boost your likelihood of success.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Burlington, MA: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When applying for a family-based green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Burlington, MA. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We’re here to help with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.