Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Highlands, NC
A Family Preference Green Card permits certain relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Highlands, NC and all of the United States. For those who are U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this type of green card include spouses, children and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference permanent resident cards do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. A family green card attorney near you in Highlands, NC can help you determine the right green card category to pursue, helping you reunite with your family and establish and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Highlands, NC?
First, the Highlands, NC family member who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen files Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection that qualifies for the sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member outside the United States has to stand by for visas to be available dependent on the date of submission and the current visa limits imposed by law. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted through forms that include the I-485.
Each eligible type of relative has a defined preference categorization, which each have their own annual limits. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Often, Highlands, NC applicants have to wait for years and, in some cases, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Highlands, NC?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and hard work and legal understanding. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially depending on the country you’re immigrating from 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. Your Highlands, NC family immigration lawyer can help you with the documentation and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Your Highlands, North Carolina immigration attorney can assist you in complying with constantly changing laws and regulations and interpret complex documentation. They know the application’s schedules and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can reduce wait times, experience a smoother application, and boost your likelihood of success.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Highlands, NC as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Highlands, NC. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys will assist your family through the legal immigration system and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We're ready to assist with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee the same results.