Ridgeville, SC Family-Based Green Card Attorneys
A Family Preference Green Card permits specified family members of United States citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents of Ridgeville, SC, and the United States in general. With U.S. citizens, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. with this type of green card include spouses, children and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). For lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney in Ridgeville, SC can help your family decide the correct type of green card category, helping you reunite with your family and establish or expand your life in the U.S. together.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Ridgeville, SC?
To get started, the family member located in Ridgeville, SC who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation needed for sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who is out of the country has to stand by for visas to be available dependent on the date of submission and the current visa limits imposed by law. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can petition for a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Each eligible type of relative falls into a category of preference, which all have individual annual caps. 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, Ridgeville, SC applicants have to wait for years or in many instances, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Ridgeville, SC?
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates consistent effort and in-depth expertise. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly based on where you're immigrating from and your designated 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 accurate information. Your Ridgeville, SC family immigration lawyer can assist with all the required paperwork and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Immigration lawyers in Ridgeville, SC can also help you navigate regulations and laws that change regularly and clarify confusing paperwork. They know the application’s schedules and can help your family get ready for eventual visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you may be able to get the visa much quicker, experience a smoother application, and boost your likelihood of success.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Ridgeville, SC as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Ridgeville, SC. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers can guide your family through the immigration procedures and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're ready to help with your and your family's immigration necessities. Start working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.