Collettsville, NC Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Family Preference Green Card permits certain relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Collettsville, NC and the United States in general. For those who are U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For lawful permanent residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Collettsville, NC can help your family decide the most fitting category of green card, reconnecting you with your family so you can establish and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Collettsville, NC?
To start, the family member in Collettsville, NC 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 proves the family relationship necessary for the sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad must remain waiting until visas are obtainable based on their application date and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can petition for a status adjustment through form I-485 and others.
Each category of eligible relative has a defined preference categorization, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. For example, First Preference, or F1, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. Often, Collettsville, NC applicants have to wait for years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Collettsville, NC
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires significant efforts and particular know-how. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can change considerably depending on your country of origin 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. Family immigration lawyers near you in Collettsville, NC can help you with the documentation and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
An immigration attorney in Collettsville, NC can also help you navigate 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 experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you can reduce wait times, experience a smoother application, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Collettsville, NC as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Collettsville, NC. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers can guide your family through the immigration procedures and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We’re here to help with all of your immigration requirements. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.