Montoursville, PA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card permits specified family members of United States citizens and permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Montoursville, PA and the United States in general. If someone is a U.S. citizen, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this 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 family members who may qualify for this green card include unmarried children and spouses.
Family preference permanent resident cards do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. A family green card attorney near you in Montoursville, PA can help your family decide the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping you reunite with your family and begin and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Montoursville, PA Family-Based Green Cards Work?
First, the Montoursville, PA family member who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection that qualifies for the sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, 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 relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can petition for a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member is given preference classification, all of which have annual limits. For example, First Preference, or F1, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Montoursville, PA applicants often wait for years or in some cases, even decades for family preference green cards to be available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Montoursville, PA?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and significant efforts and particular know-how. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can differ based on where you're immigrating from and your assigned 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 critical that you file as soon as you can and with the utmost accuracy. Your Montoursville, PA family immigration lawyer can help you present the requisite documents and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
An immigration attorney in Montoursville, PA can assist you in complying with ever-changing laws and regulations and clarify confusing paperwork. They know the application’s schedules and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can shorten potential delays, benefit from a smoother experience, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Montoursville, PA: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When applying for a family-based green card, pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Montoursville, PA. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're eager to assist with your and your family's immigration necessities. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.