Dorchester, SC Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows specific relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Dorchester, SC and the entire United States. With U.S. citizens, relatives eligible to come to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For those who are lawful permanent residents, 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 have a different path from green cards for immediate family members, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Family green card attorneys in Dorchester, SC can help you to decide the right green card category to pursue, helping you unite with your family to establish or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Dorchester, SC Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To begin, the Dorchester, SC family member who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen has to file Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection needed for sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who is not in the United States has to stand by for visas to be available depending on when they applied and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can apply for their status to be adjusted through form I-485 and others.
Each eligible type of relative is given preference classification, which all have individual annual caps. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is designated for unmarried children who are 21 or older of United States citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Often, Dorchester, SC applicants have to wait for years or in many instances, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Immigration Lawyer in Dorchester, SC?
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates hard work and particular know-how. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can vary significantly based on where you're immigrating from and your preference category. However, some have reported fifteen-year or more wait for an F4 (sibling) visa. With that kind of waiting period, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with the utmost accuracy. Dorchester, SC family immigration attorneys can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Immigration lawyers in Dorchester, SC can help you understand the regulations and laws that change regularly and understand complicated documents. They understand the application timelines and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can minimize delays, benefit from a smoother experience, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Dorchester, SC Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Dorchester, SC. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys will assist your family through the legal immigration system and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We're eager to assist with your and your family member's immigration needs. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.