Winchendon, MA Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Family Preference Green Card permits specified family members of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Winchendon, MA and the entire United States. For those who are U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this type of green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For those who are lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include unmarried children no matter what age, and spouses.
Family preference permanent resident cards 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 Winchendon, MA family green card lawyer can help you to decide the correct type of green card category, helping your family to reconnect and create or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Winchendon, MA?
First, the Winchendon, MA family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship that qualifies for the sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who is out of the country must remain waiting until visas are obtainable depending on when they applied and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can request a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible falls into a category of preference, 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. Many Winchendon, MA applicants end up waiting for years or in many instances, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Winchendon, MA?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and consistent effort and legal knowledge. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can vary significantly depending on the country you’re immigrating from and which preference category you belong to. However, some have reported fifteen-year or more wait for an F4 (sibling) visa. With that kind of waiting period, it's imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with the utmost accuracy. Family immigration lawyers near you in Winchendon, MA can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Your Winchendon, Massachusetts immigration attorney can assist you with understanding ever-changing laws and regulations and comprehend intricate documentation. They have a grasp of application timetables and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Winchendon, MA Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Winchendon, 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 team will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We're ready to help with your and your family member's immigration needs. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.