Westfield, MA Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables certain relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Westfield, MA and the United States in general. For U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. with this category of green card include spouses, children and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For those who are lawful permanent residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference permanent resident cards have a different path from green cards for immediate family members, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. Family green card attorneys in Westfield, MA can help you determine the correct type of green card category, reconnecting you with your family so you can begin and continue your life together in the United States.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Westfield, MA?
To begin, the Westfield, MA family member who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation needed for sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who is out of the country has to stand by for visas to be available based on their application date and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can petition for a status adjustment through forms that include the I-485.
Each eligible type of relative has a defined preference categorization, which all have individual annual caps. For example, First Preference, or F1, is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. Many Westfield, MA applicants end up waiting for years or in many instances, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Westfield, MA?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and hard work and legal understanding. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially based on where you're immigrating from and your designated preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with accurate information. Family immigration lawyers near you in Westfield, MA can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Westfield, MA immigration lawyers can assist you with understanding regulations and laws that change regularly and comprehend intricate documentation. They have a grasp of application timetables and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can shorten potential delays, benefit from a smoother experience, and boost your likelihood of success.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Westfield, MA: Your Family Immigration Attorney
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Westfield, MA. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual team will assist your family through the legal immigration system and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We're ready to assist with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.