Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Banner Elk, NC
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows specific relatives of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to themselves become permanent residents in Banner Elk, NC and the rest of the U.S. For those who are U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this category 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 unmarried children no matter what age, and spouses.
Family preference permanent resident cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. A family green card attorney near you in Banner Elk, NC can help your family decide the right green card category to pursue, helping you reunite with your family and create and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Banner Elk, NC Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To get started, the family member located in Banner Elk, NC who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship needed for sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who is not in the United States has to stand by for visas to be available based on the date they apply 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 category of eligible relative is assigned a preference category, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. For example, First Preference, or F1, is designated for unmarried children who are 21 or older of United States citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. It's common for Banner Elk, NC applicants to wait for many years or even decades for family preference green cards to be available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Banner Elk, NC
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires consistent effort and in-depth expertise. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can change considerably depending on the country you’re immigrating from and which preference category you belong to. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. With this kind of potential wait, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with the utmost accuracy. Family immigration lawyers near you in Banner Elk, NC can assist with all the required paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
An immigration attorney in Banner Elk, NC can assist you in complying with laws and regulations that change constantly and interpret complex documentation. They have a grasp of application timetables and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, enjoy a more streamlined process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Banner Elk, NC as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When applying for a family-based green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Banner Elk, NC. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual team will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We’re here to help with your and your family member's immigration needs. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee the same results.