Surf City, NC Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Family Preference Green Card permits specific relatives of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to be granted permanent residence in Surf City, NC and the United States in general. If someone is a U.S. citizen, family members that can come to the U.S. under this type of green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney in Surf City, NC can help you determine the right green card category to pursue, helping you reunite with your family and build and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Surf City, NC Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To get started, the family member located in Surf City, NC who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation necessary for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad must wait for visas to become accessible 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 request a status adjustment by filing forms including I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member is assigned a preference category, which each have their own annual limits. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. Often, Surf City, NC applicants have to wait for years or in some cases, even decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Surf City, NC?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires consistent effort and particular know-how. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can change considerably 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, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with complete accuracy. A family immigration attorney in Surf City, NC can help you present the requisite documents and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Surf City, NC immigration lawyers can assist you with understanding regulations and laws that change regularly and understand complicated documents. They know the application’s schedules and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can shorten potential delays, enjoy a more streamlined process, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Surf City, NC Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Surf City, NC. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys will assist your family through the legal immigration system and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We’re here to help with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.