Utica, NY Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card permits specific relatives of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to gain permanent residency in Utica, NY and the entire United States. With U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this type of green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 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 have a different path from green cards for immediate family members, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Utica, NY can help you to decide the most fitting category of green card, helping you reunite with your family and establish or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Utica, NY?
To get started, the family member located in Utica, NY who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection that qualifies for the sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who is not in the United States are required to wait for visas to become available based on their application date and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the family member is legally in the United States, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted through form I-485 and others.
Every relative type who is eligible has a defined preference categorization, all of which have annual limits. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is designated for unmarried children who are 21 or older of United States citizens. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. Many Utica, NY applicants end up waiting for years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Utica, NY?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires consistent effort and legal understanding. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can differ depending on your country of origin and your designated 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. Family immigration lawyers near you in Utica, NY can assist with all the required paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Your Utica, New York immigration attorney can help you understand the regulations and laws that change regularly and understand complicated documents. They understand the tight application timeline and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can shorten potential delays, benefit from a smoother experience, and boost your likelihood of success.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Utica, NY Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Utica, NY. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers can help your family navigate the legal immigration process and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We’re here to help with your and your family's immigration necessities. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.