Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in Albemarle, NC
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes particular family members of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Albemarle, NC and the United States in general. For those who are U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. with this type of green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For lawful permanent residents, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. Family green card attorneys in Albemarle, NC can help you determine the right green card category to pursue, helping you reunite with your family and create and grow your lives together in the United States.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Albemarle, NC?
To get started, the family member located in Albemarle, NC who is a US citizen or permanent resident has to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection required for sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who is out of the country has to stand by for visas to be available dependent on the date of submission and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the family member is legally in the United States, they can request a status adjustment through forms that include the I-485.
Each category of eligible relative falls into a category of preference, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. It's common for Albemarle, NC applicants to wait for many years and, in some cases, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Albemarle, NC
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and hard work and legal understanding. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can vary significantly 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 imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with complete accuracy. A family immigration attorney in Albemarle, NC can assist with all the required paperwork and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Immigration lawyers in Albemarle, NC can assist you in complying with regulations and laws that change regularly 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, experience a smoother application, and boost your likelihood of success.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Albemarle, NC as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Albemarle, NC. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and many of our team members are immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys will assist your family through the legal immigration system as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We’re here to help with all of your immigration requirements. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.