Elizabeth City, NC Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes certain relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents of Elizabeth City, NC, and the entire United States. With U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this type of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For those who are lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference green cards are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Elizabeth City, NC can help your family decide the most fitting category of green card, helping you unite with your family to begin or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Elizabeth City, NC Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To begin, the Elizabeth City, NC family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship required 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 their application date and the current visa limits imposed by law. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can request a status adjustment through forms that include the I-485.
Each eligible type of relative has a defined preference categorization, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. First Preference, or F1, for example is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. Often, Elizabeth City, NC applicants have to wait for years or in many instances, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Elizabeth City, NC?
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 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 that kind of waiting period, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with all of your correct data . Elizabeth City, NC family immigration attorneys can assist with all the required paperwork and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
An immigration attorney in Elizabeth City, NC can assist you in complying with ever-changing laws and regulations and interpret complex documentation. They know the application’s schedules and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you can minimize delays, enjoy a more streamlined process, and boost your likelihood of success.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Elizabeth City, NC: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Elizabeth City, NC. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys will assist your family through the legal immigration system and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We're eager to assist with all of your immigration requirements. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.