Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in Cleveland, OH
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specified family members of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to be granted permanent residence in Cleveland, OH and all of the United States. For U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). For those who are lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference green cards do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney in Cleveland, OH can help you to decide the most fitting category of green card, reconnecting you with your family so you can build and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Cleveland, OH?
First, the Cleveland, OH family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection needed for sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who is out of the country has to stand by for visas to be available dependent on the date of submission and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can request a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible is given preference classification, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. F1, for example, which is First Preference, 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 Cleveland, OH applicants to wait for many years or even decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Cleveland, OH?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires substantial work and particular know-how. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can differ depending on the country 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 necessary to file as early as is feasible and with accurate information. Family immigration lawyers near you in Cleveland, OH can assist with all the required paperwork and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Your Cleveland, Ohio immigration attorney can also help you navigate laws and regulations that change constantly 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 knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Cleveland, OH: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Cleveland, OH. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys can guide your family through the immigration procedures and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're ready to help with your and your family member's immigration needs. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.