South Chelmsford, MA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card permits certain relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in South Chelmsford, MA and the entire United States. If someone is a U.S. citizen, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this category of green card include children, spouses and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For those who are lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference green cards are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney in South Chelmsford, MA can help you to decide the right green card category to pursue, reconnecting you with your family so you can create or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in South Chelmsford, MA?
To get started, the family member located in South Chelmsford, MA who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident has to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation necessary for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad has to stand by for visas to be available based on the date they apply and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can request a status adjustment through forms that include the I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member falls into a category of preference, which each have their own 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. It's common for South Chelmsford, MA applicants to wait for many years and, in some cases, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in South Chelmsford, MA
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates hard work and legal understanding. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can differ which varies based on your nationality 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, you must apply as early as possible and with accurate information. Family immigration lawyers near you in South Chelmsford, MA can help you with the documentation and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
South Chelmsford, MA immigration lawyers can assist you in complying with constantly changing laws and regulations and comprehend intricate documentation. They understand the application timelines and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can shorten potential delays, enjoy a more streamlined process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in South Chelmsford, MA: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in South Chelmsford, MA. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and many of our team members are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys will assist your family through the legal immigration system and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We're eager to assist with your and your family member's immigration needs. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.