Effingham, SC Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows specified family members of United States citizens and permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Effingham, SC and all of the United States. If someone is a U.S. citizen, family members that can come to the U.S. with this category of green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (as long as the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Family preference permanent resident cards are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. Family green card attorneys in Effingham, SC can help your family decide the right green card category to pursue, helping you reunite with your family and create or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Effingham, SC?
To start, the family member in Effingham, SC who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen files Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship required for sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member outside the United States are required to wait for visas to become available dependent on the date of submission and the current visa limits imposed by law. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can petition for a status adjustment through form I-485 and others.
Each category of eligible relative has a defined preference categorization, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. For example, First Preference, or F1, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Effingham, SC applicants often wait for years or even decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Effingham, SC
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates significant efforts and legal understanding. 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 designated preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. With that kind of waiting period, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with the utmost accuracy. A family immigration attorney in Effingham, SC can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
An immigration attorney in Effingham, SC can help you understand the constantly changing laws and regulations and comprehend intricate documentation. They understand the tight application timeline and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you can minimize delays, benefit from a smoother experience, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Effingham, SC as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Effingham, SC. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our multicultural, multilingual team will assist your family through the legal immigration system and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We're ready to assist with your and your family's immigration necessities. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.