Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Hookerton, NC
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specific relatives of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Hookerton, NC and the entire United States. If someone is a U.S. citizen, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. with this green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For those who are lawful permanent residents, the relatives eligible for this 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 designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. Family green card attorneys in Hookerton, NC can help you to decide the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping you reunite with your family and build or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Hookerton, NC?
To start, the family member in Hookerton, NC who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen must file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection required for sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad are required to wait for visas to become available dependent on the date of submission and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can apply for their status to be adjusted through forms that include the I-485.
Each category of eligible relative has a defined preference categorization, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. First Preference, or F1, for example is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Many Hookerton, NC applicants end up waiting for years or in some cases, even decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Hookerton, NC?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and substantial work and in-depth expertise. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can differ based on where you're immigrating from and your designated preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with all of your correct data . A family immigration attorney in Hookerton, NC can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Immigration lawyers in Hookerton, NC can also help you navigate laws and regulations that change constantly and interpret complex documentation. 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 minimize delays, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Hookerton, NC: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When applying for a family-based green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Hookerton, NC. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys will assist your family through the legal immigration system and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We’re here to help with all of your immigration requirements. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.