Emmaus, PA Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows specified family members of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Emmaus, PA and the entire United States. For those who are U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this category of green card include spouses, children and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference permanent resident cards have a different path from green cards for immediate family members, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. Your Emmaus, PA family green card lawyer can help you determine the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping you reunite with your family and build or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Emmaus, PA Family-Based Green Cards Work?
First, the Emmaus, PA family member who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, called 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 must wait for visas to become accessible depending on when they applied and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can apply for their status to be adjusted through forms that include the I-485.
Each eligible type of relative is assigned a preference category, all of which have annual limits. 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 Emmaus, PA applicants to wait for many years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Emmaus, PA?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and substantial work and legal knowledge. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly which varies based on your nationality and your preference category. However, some have reported fifteen-year or more wait for an F4 (sibling) visa. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's imperative that you apply as soon as possible and with complete accuracy. Your Emmaus, PA family immigration lawyer can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Your Emmaus, Pennsylvania immigration attorney can also help you navigate laws and regulations that change constantly and understand complicated documents. They understand the application timelines and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can minimize delays, experience a smoother application, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Family Immigration Attorney: Why Pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Emmaus, PA
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Emmaus, PA. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys can help your family navigate the legal immigration process as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We’re here to help with all of your immigration requirements. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.