Pittsfield, MA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card permits certain relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Pittsfield, MA and the entire United States. For U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this category of green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference green cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Pittsfield, MA can help you to decide the most fitting category of green card, helping your family to reconnect and create and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Pittsfield, MA Family-Based Green Cards Work?
First, the Pittsfield, MA family member who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection that qualifies for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad must wait for visas to become accessible based on their application date and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can request a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible has a defined preference categorization, all of which have annual limits. For example, First Preference, or F1, 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. Often, Pittsfield, MA applicants have to wait for years and, in some cases, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Pittsfield, MA?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires substantial work and legal understanding. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can fluctuate substantially based on where you're immigrating from and your assigned preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. With that kind of waiting period, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with accurate information. Your Pittsfield, MA family immigration lawyer can assist with all the required paperwork and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Your Pittsfield, Massachusetts immigration attorney can assist you in complying with laws and regulations that change constantly and interpret complex documentation. They have a grasp of application timetables and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can reduce wait times, enjoy a more streamlined process, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Pittsfield, MA
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Pittsfield, MA. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and our team includes many individuals who 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 help with all of your immigration requirements. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee the same results.