Bethany, PA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes certain relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Bethany, PA and all of the United States. If someone is a U.S. citizen, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. with this type of green card include spouses, children and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include unmarried children no matter what age, and spouses.
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 Bethany, PA can assist your family in determining the correct type of green card category, helping you unite with your family to create and continue your life together in the United States.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Bethany, PA?
To start, the family member in Bethany, PA who is a US citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member outside the United States has to stand by for visas to be available based on the date they apply and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can request a status adjustment through forms that include the I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible falls into a category of preference, all of which have annual limits. 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. Bethany, PA applicants often wait for years or in many instances, decades for family preference green cards to open up.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Bethany, PA?
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 fluctuate substantially 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 that kind of waiting period, it's imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with accurate information. A family immigration attorney in Bethany, PA can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
An immigration attorney in Bethany, PA can also help you navigate ever-changing laws and regulations and clarify confusing paperwork. They know the application’s schedules and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can shorten potential delays, benefit from a smoother experience, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Bethany, PA: 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 Bethany, PA. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and many of our team members are immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. 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 assist with your and your family member's immigration needs. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.