Rutherfordton, NC Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes specified family members of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Rutherfordton, NC and all of the United States. For those who are U.S. citizens, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. with this type of green card include spouses, children and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include unmarried children and spouses.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. A family green card attorney in Rutherfordton, NC can help your family decide the correct type of green card category, reconnecting you with your family so you can build or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Rutherfordton, NC?
To start, the family member in Rutherfordton, NC who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident has to file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship needed for sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who lives abroad has to stand by for visas to be available based on the date they apply and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can petition for a status adjustment by filing forms including I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible is given preference classification, which all have individual annual caps. First Preference, or F1, for example is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. It's common for Rutherfordton, NC applicants to wait for many years and, in some cases, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Rutherfordton, NC
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and consistent effort and legal knowledge. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can differ which varies based on your nationality and which preference category you belong to. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, you must apply as early as possible and with complete accuracy. Your Rutherfordton, NC family immigration lawyer can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Your Rutherfordton, North Carolina immigration attorney can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They know the application’s schedules and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can reduce wait times, benefit from a smoother experience, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Rutherfordton, NC as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When applying for a family-based green card, pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Rutherfordton, NC. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers can help your family navigate the legal immigration process and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We're ready to assist with your and your family's immigration necessities. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.