Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in West Barnstable, MA
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specified family members of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in West Barnstable, MA and all of the United States. With U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. under this type of green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For lawful permanent residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants have a different path from green cards for immediate family members, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. Your West Barnstable, MA family green card lawyer can help your family decide the right green card category to pursue, helping you unite with your family to build or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do West Barnstable, MA Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To begin, the West Barnstable, MA family member who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection required for sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member who is out of the country must remain waiting until visas are obtainable 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 petition for a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member is assigned a preference category, which all have individual annual caps. For example, First Preference, or F1, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. It's common for West Barnstable, MA applicants to wait for many years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Immigration Lawyer in West Barnstable, MA?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and significant efforts and legal understanding. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can differ depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your preference category. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, visas. When you face this kind of potential delay, you must apply as early as possible and with all of your correct data . West Barnstable, MA family immigration attorneys can help you present the requisite documents and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Your West Barnstable, Massachusetts immigration attorney can assist you in complying with regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the application timelines and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, enjoy a more streamlined process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in West Barnstable, MA: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When applying for a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in West Barnstable, MA. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual team 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 the same results.