Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in Great Neck, NY
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specified family members of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to themselves become permanent residents in Great Neck, NY and the rest of the U.S. For U.S. citizens, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Great Neck, NY can help you to decide the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping you unite with your family to begin and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Great Neck, NY?
To start, the family member in Great Neck, NY who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection required for sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member outside the United States are required to wait for visas to become available based on the date they apply and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can request a status adjustment by filing forms including I-485.
Each eligible type of relative falls into a category of preference, which each have their own annual limits. For example, First Preference, or F1, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Many Great Neck, NY applicants end up waiting for years or in many instances, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Great Neck, NY
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and significant efforts and legal knowledge. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can differ based on where you're immigrating from and your assigned preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with complete accuracy. Great Neck, NY family immigration attorneys can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
An immigration attorney in Great Neck, NY can assist you with understanding constantly changing laws and regulations and comprehend intricate documentation. They know the application’s schedules and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you can reduce wait times, benefit from a smoother experience, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Great Neck, NY as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Great Neck, NY. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure 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. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.