Lyman, SC Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes certain relatives of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Lyman, SC and the entire United States. If someone is a U.S. citizen, family members that can come to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For lawful permanent residents, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference green cards 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. Family green card attorneys in Lyman, SC can help you to decide the right green card category to pursue, helping you reunite with your family and create and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Lyman, SC?
To get started, the family member located in Lyman, SC who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen needs to file Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship required for sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member who is not in the United States has to stand by for visas to be available dependent on the date of submission and the yearly visa caps that Congress imposed. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can request a status adjustment through forms that include the I-485.
Each category of eligible relative has a defined preference categorization, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. First Preference, or F1, for example is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Often, Lyman, SC applicants have to wait for years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Lyman, SC
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and substantial work and particular know-how. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can vary significantly depending on your country of origin and which preference category you belong to. With that being said, there are reports of more than fifteen-year waits for F4, or sibling, visas. With this kind of potential wait, you must apply as early as possible and with all of your correct data . A family immigration attorney in Lyman, SC can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Lyman, SC immigration lawyers can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and understand complicated documents. They understand the tight application timeline and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. With knowledgeable legal professionals in your corner, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, experience a smoother application, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Lyman, SC: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Lyman, SC. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have immediate family members who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys will advise your family throughout the legal immigration structure and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* 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.