Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Johnstown, NY
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows specific relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents of Johnstown, NY, and the United States in general. For those who are U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this category of green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference green cards are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. A family green card attorney in Johnstown, NY can help you to decide the most fitting category of green card, reconnecting you with your family so you can establish and continue your life together in the United States.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Johnstown, NY?
First, the Johnstown, NY family member who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection that qualifies for the sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who is out of the country must remain waiting until visas are obtainable dependent on the date of submission and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. 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.
Every relative type who is eligible is given preference classification, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. As an example, F1, or First Preference, 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. Johnstown, NY applicants often wait for years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Johnstown, NY?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires hard work and legal knowledge. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can change considerably depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your assigned preference category. However, some have reported fifteen-year or more wait for an F4 (sibling) visa. With this kind of potential wait, it's imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with accurate information. Family immigration lawyers near you in Johnstown, NY can help you present the requisite documents and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Your Johnstown, New York immigration attorney can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and clarify confusing paperwork. They understand the tight application timeline and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can shorten potential delays, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Johnstown, NY: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Johnstown, NY. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and many of our team members are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys can guide your family through the immigration procedures as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're ready to help with your and your family member's immigration needs. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee the same results.