Yarmouth Port, MA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specified family members of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to become permanent residents of Yarmouth Port, MA, and the entire United States. For U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this type of green card include spouses, children and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For those who are lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney in Yarmouth Port, MA can help you determine the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping you reunite with your family and build and grow your lives together in the United States.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Yarmouth Port, MA?
First, the Yarmouth Port, MA family member who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection required for sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who is not in the United States has to stand by for visas to be available based on their application date and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the family member is legally in the United States, they can request a status adjustment through forms that include the I-485.
Each category of eligible relative falls into a category of preference, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. For example, First Preference, or F1, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. It's common for Yarmouth Port, MA applicants to wait for many years or even decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Yarmouth Port, MA
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires significant efforts and legal understanding. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can change considerably based on where you're immigrating from and your designated preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. With that kind of waiting period, you must apply as early as possible and with complete accuracy. A family immigration attorney in Yarmouth Port, MA can help you with the documentation and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Your Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts immigration attorney can also help you navigate constantly changing laws and regulations and clarify confusing paperwork. They understand the application timelines and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can shorten potential delays, experience a smoother application, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Yarmouth Port, MA
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Yarmouth Port, MA. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're ready to assist 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.