Elkins Park, PA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows certain relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Elkins Park, PA and all of the United States. With U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. with this category of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For those who are lawful permanent residents, relatives who could qualify 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 for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney in Elkins Park, PA can help you to decide the correct type of green card category, helping you unite with your family to create or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Elkins Park, PA?
To get started, the family member located in Elkins Park, PA who is a US citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship required for sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member outside the United States are required to wait for visas to become available based on their application date and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted with various forms including I-485.
Each eligible type of relative falls into a category of preference, which each have their own annual limits. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. Many Elkins Park, PA applicants end up waiting for years or in many instances, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Elkins Park, PA
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates significant efforts and legal knowledge. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can differ based on where you're immigrating from and your 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 complete accuracy. Your Elkins Park, PA family immigration lawyer can help you present the requisite documents and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Elkins Park, PA immigration lawyers can assist you with understanding laws and regulations that change constantly and clarify confusing paperwork. They know the application’s schedules and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can minimize delays, enjoy a more streamlined process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Elkins Park, PA as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Elkins Park, PA. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and many of our team members are immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys can help your family navigate the legal immigration process and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We’re here to help with all of your immigration requirements. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.