Family Immigration Lawyers for Green Cards in Jefferson, PA
A Green Card for Family Immigrants enables specified family members of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Jefferson, PA and the rest of the U.S. If someone is a U.S. citizen, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this category of green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For lawful permanent residents, the relatives eligible for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference 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 Jefferson, PA family green card lawyer can help your family decide the most fitting category of green card, helping your family to reconnect and build or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Jefferson, PA?
To begin, the Jefferson, PA family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who is not in the United States are required to wait for visas to become available based on their application date and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the family member is legally in the United States, they can request for their immigration status to be adjusted with various forms including I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member has a defined preference categorization, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. It's common for Jefferson, PA applicants to wait for many years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Immigration Lawyer in Jefferson, PA?
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and hard work and in-depth expertise. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can differ based on where you're immigrating from and your assigned 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, you must apply as early as possible and with the utmost accuracy. Family immigration lawyers near you in Jefferson, PA can assist with all the required paperwork and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
Your Jefferson, Pennsylvania immigration attorney can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the application timelines and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, undergo a more seamless process, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Jefferson, PA Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Jefferson, PA. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual team can guide your family through the immigration procedures as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're eager to assist 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.