Lancaster, NY Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes certain relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Lancaster, NY and the United States in general. With U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this type of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, the relatives eligible for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Family green card attorneys in Lancaster, NY can assist your family in determining the correct type of green card category, helping you reunite with your family and create and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Lancaster, NY?
First, the Lancaster, NY family member who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection needed for sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member outside the United States must remain waiting until visas are obtainable dependent on the date of submission and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can apply for their status to be adjusted through forms that include the I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible falls into a category of preference, which each have their own annual limits. For example, First Preference, or F1, is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Many Lancaster, NY applicants end up waiting for years or in some cases, even decades for family preference green cards to open up.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Lancaster, 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 depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your assigned preference category. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, visas. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with accurate information. Family immigration lawyers near you in Lancaster, NY can assist with all the required paperwork and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Lancaster, NY immigration lawyers can help you understand the regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They have a grasp of application timetables and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can shorten potential delays, experience a smoother application, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Lancaster, NY: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Lancaster, NY. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, 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's immigration necessities. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.