Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Knightdale, NC
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes certain relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Knightdale, NC and the rest of the U.S. If someone is a U.S. citizen, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. with this green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For lawful permanent residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. A family green card attorney near you in Knightdale, NC can help you to decide the correct type of green card category, helping you unite with your family to begin and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Knightdale, NC?
To get started, the family member located in Knightdale, 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 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 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 by filing forms including I-485.
Each eligible type of relative is assigned a preference category, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. For example, First Preference, or F1, 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. Knightdale, NC applicants often wait for years or in some cases, even decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Knightdale, NC?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires hard work and legal knowledge. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly depending on your country of origin and your assigned preference category. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, visas. With this kind of potential wait, you must apply as early as possible and with the utmost accuracy. Family immigration lawyers near you in Knightdale, NC can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Your Knightdale, North Carolina immigration attorney can assist you in complying with laws and regulations that change constantly and clarify confusing paperwork. They understand the application timelines and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can reduce wait times, experience a smoother application, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Knightdale, NC: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Knightdale, NC. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys can help your family navigate the legal immigration process and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We're ready to assist with your and your family member's immigration needs. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.