Washington, NJ Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Family Preference Green Card permits certain relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents of Washington, NJ, and the United States in general. If someone is a U.S. citizen, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. with this green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, the family members who may qualify for this green card include unmarried children and spouses.
Family preference permanent resident cards do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your Washington, NJ family green card lawyer can help you to decide the right green card category to pursue, reconnecting you with your family so you can establish and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Washington, NJ Family-Based Green Cards Work?
First, the Washington, NJ family member who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident must file Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad must remain waiting until visas are obtainable based on their application date and the current visa limits imposed by law. 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 eligible type of relative has a defined preference categorization, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. First Preference, or F1, for example is designated for unmarried children who are 21 or older of United States citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. It's common for Washington, NJ applicants to wait for many years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Washington, NJ?
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates hard work and legal knowledge. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially based on where you're immigrating from and your preference category. However, some have reported fifteen-year or more wait for an F4 (sibling) visa. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with complete accuracy. Washington, NJ family immigration attorneys can help you with the documentation and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
An immigration attorney in Washington, NJ can assist you with understanding constantly changing laws and regulations and understand complicated documents. They understand the tight application timeline and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, 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 Washington, NJ: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When applying for a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Washington, NJ. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual team will assist your family through the legal immigration system as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're ready to assist with your and your family's immigration necessities. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.