Joplin, MO Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specific relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Joplin, MO and all of the United States. If someone is a U.S. citizen, family members that can come to the U.S. under this type of green card include minor and adult 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.
Family preference green cards have a different path from green cards for immediate family members, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Family green card attorneys in Joplin, MO can help you to decide the correct type of green card category, helping your family to reconnect and create and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Joplin, MO Family-Based Green Cards Work?
First, the Joplin, MO family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who lives abroad has to stand by for visas to be available dependent on the date of submission and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted by filing forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative is given preference classification, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. 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. Joplin, MO applicants often wait for years or in some cases, even decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Joplin, MO?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and hard work and in-depth expertise. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your assigned preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. When you face this kind of potential delay, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with complete accuracy. A family immigration attorney in Joplin, MO can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
An immigration attorney in Joplin, MO can also help you navigate laws and regulations that change constantly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the application timelines and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, experience a smoother application, and boost your likelihood of success.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Joplin, MO
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Joplin, MO. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and many of our team members are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys will assist your family through the legal immigration system 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. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.