Portage, PA Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
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 Portage, 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 category of green card include spouses, children and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). For those who are lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
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 near you in Portage, PA can help your family decide the correct type of green card category, helping you unite with your family to build or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Portage, PA?
To start, the family member in Portage, PA who is a US citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection needed for sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member outside the United States are required to wait for visas to become available based on their application date 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 form I-485 and others.
Every eligible kind of family member falls into a category of preference, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. First Preference, or F1, for example is designated for unmarried children who are 21 or older of United States citizens. 23,400 family preference green cards are appropriated for F1 applicants yearly, out of 226,000 available. Portage, PA applicants often wait for years or in some cases, even decades for family preference green cards to be available.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Immigration Lawyer in Portage, PA?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires hard work and in-depth expertise. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can differ depending on the country you’re immigrating from and which preference category you belong to. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. With this kind of potential wait, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with accurate information. A family immigration attorney in Portage, PA can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
An immigration attorney in Portage, PA can assist you in complying with regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the application timelines and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you can reduce wait times, experience a smoother application, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Portage, PA Family Immigration Lawyer
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Portage, PA. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're ready to help with all of your family's legal immigration needs. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.