Essex, MA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes specific relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Essex, MA and the rest of the U.S. For those who are U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this green card include spouses, children and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For those who are lawful permanent residents, relatives who could qualify 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 designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney in Essex, MA can help you to decide the right green card category to pursue, helping you reunite with your family and create or advance your lives together in the U.S.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Essex, MA?
To begin, the Essex, MA family member who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident has to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection required for sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who lives abroad are required to wait for visas to become available dependent on the date of submission and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can apply for their status to be adjusted through form I-485 and others.
Every relative type who is eligible falls into a category of preference, all of which have annual limits. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Many Essex, MA applicants end up waiting for years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Essex, MA?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and consistent effort and legal knowledge. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can differ based on where 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. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with all of your correct data . Your Essex, MA family immigration lawyer can help you present the requisite documents and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Your Essex, Massachusetts immigration attorney can assist you with understanding ever-changing laws and regulations 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 improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Essex, MA as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Essex, MA. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and many of our team members are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys can guide your family through the immigration procedures and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're eager to assist with all of your immigration requirements. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.