Spencer, NY Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes particular family members of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to themselves become permanent residents in Spencer, NY and all of the United States. For U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this category of green card include spouses, children and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference permanent resident cards do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. Your Spencer, NY family green card lawyer can help you determine the most fitting category of green card, reconnecting you with your family so you can begin or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Spencer, NY?
To start, the family member in Spencer, NY who is a US citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship necessary for the sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who is not in the United States must wait for visas to become accessible depending on when they applied and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can petition for a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Each eligible type of relative is assigned a preference category, all of which have annual limits. First Preference, or F1, for example is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Spencer, NY applicants often wait for years or in some cases, even decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Spencer, NY
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires significant efforts and in-depth expertise. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can change considerably based on where you're immigrating from and your designated 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 necessary to file as early as is feasible and with complete accuracy. A family immigration attorney in Spencer, NY can help you present the requisite documents and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Immigration lawyers in Spencer, NY can also help you navigate constantly changing laws and regulations and clarify confusing paperwork. They understand the tight application timeline 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 reduce wait times, enjoy a more streamlined process, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Spencer, NY
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Spencer, NY. Our founder relocated 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 team will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're ready to help with all of your immigration requirements. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee the same results.