Harleyville, SC Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card permits particular family members of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Harleyville, SC 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 type of green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). If someone is a lawful permanent resident, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Harleyville, SC can assist your family in determining the most fitting category of green card, helping you unite with your family to build or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Harleyville, SC?
First, the Harleyville, SC family member who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen files Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation required for sponsorship. Next, after USCIS approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad must remain waiting until visas are obtainable based on their application date and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can request a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Every relative type who is eligible is assigned a preference category, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. F1, for example, which is First Preference, is for the unmarried, over 21-year-old children of United States citizens. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. Many Harleyville, SC applicants end up waiting for years or even decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Harleyville, SC
The legal immigration process takes a lot of time and significant efforts and in-depth expertise. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can vary significantly depending on your country of origin and your preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, it's necessary to file as early as is feasible and with accurate information. Your Harleyville, SC family immigration lawyer can assist with all the required paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Harleyville, SC immigration lawyers can assist you with understanding regulations and laws that change regularly and understand complicated documents. They have a grasp of application timetables 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 may be able to get the visa much quicker, experience a smoother application, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Harleyville, SC Family Immigration Lawyer
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Harleyville, SC. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual team will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We're ready to help with all of your immigration requirements. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.