Youngstown, PA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card permits specific relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Youngstown, PA and all of the United States. If someone is a U.S. citizen, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this category of green card include spouses, children and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference 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 Youngstown, PA can help your family decide the correct type of green card category, reconnecting you with your family so you can create or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Youngstown, PA?
To get started, the family member located in Youngstown, PA who is a US citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation that qualifies for the sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who is not in the United States must wait for visas to become accessible depending on when they applied 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 through forms that include the I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible has a defined preference categorization, which each have their own annual limits. First Preference, or F1, for example is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Many Youngstown, PA applicants end up waiting for years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Youngstown, PA?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and significant efforts and legal understanding. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can change considerably depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your assigned preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. When you face this kind of potential delay, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with complete accuracy. Family immigration lawyers near you in Youngstown, PA can help you present the requisite documents and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
An immigration attorney in Youngstown, PA can help you understand the laws and regulations that change constantly and interpret complex documentation. They know the application’s schedules and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can reduce wait times, enjoy a more streamlined process, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Youngstown, PA as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Youngstown, PA. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys can help your family navigate the legal immigration process and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We’re here to help with your and your family's immigration necessities. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee the same results.