Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Mentor, OH
A Family Preference Green Card permits certain relatives of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to themselves become permanent residents in Mentor, OH and the rest of the U.S. With U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. under this type of 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 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 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. Family green card attorneys in Mentor, OH can help your family decide the appropriate category of green card to apply for, 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 Mentor, OH?
To begin, the Mentor, OH family member who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection required for sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member outside the United States must remain waiting until visas are obtainable depending on when they applied and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the family member is legally in the United States, they can apply for their status to be adjusted with various forms including I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member has a defined preference categorization, all of which have annual limits. As an example, F1, or First Preference, is designated for unmarried children who are 21 or older of United States citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Often, Mentor, OH applicants have to wait for years or in many instances, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Immigration Lawyer in Mentor, OH?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and significant efforts and legal understanding. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can change considerably based on where you're immigrating from and your assigned preference category. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, visas. With that kind of waiting period, you must apply as early as possible and with accurate information. Mentor, OH family immigration attorneys can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
An immigration attorney in Mentor, OH can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and clarify confusing paperwork. They have a grasp of application timetables and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can shorten potential delays, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Mentor, OH: Your Family Immigration Attorney
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Mentor, OH. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We're ready to help with all of your immigration requirements. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.