Chester Heights, PA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows certain relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Chester Heights, PA and the rest of the U.S. If someone is a U.S. citizen, family members that can come to the U.S. with this green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). For lawful permanent residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include unmarried children and spouses.
Family preference permanent resident cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your Chester Heights, PA family green card lawyer can help you to decide the most fitting category of green card, reconnecting you with your family so you can build or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Chester Heights, PA Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To start, the family member in Chester Heights, PA who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen has to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection that qualifies for the sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad has to stand by for visas to be available dependent on the date of submission and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the family member is legally in the United States, they can request a status adjustment through form I-485 and others.
Each category of eligible relative has a defined preference categorization, which each have their own annual limits. F1, for example, which is 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. It's common for Chester Heights, PA applicants to wait for many years or in some cases, even decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Chester Heights, PA?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and consistent effort and legal knowledge. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially based on where you're immigrating from and your assigned preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. With that kind of waiting period, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with complete accuracy. Chester Heights, PA family immigration attorneys can help you present the requisite documents and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
An immigration attorney in Chester Heights, PA can assist you in complying with regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the tight application timeline and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you can shorten potential delays, benefit from a smoother experience, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Chester Heights, PA as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When applying for a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Chester Heights, PA. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers 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 all of your family's legal immigration needs. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.