Richmond, VT Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes specified family members of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be granted permanent residence in Richmond, VT and all of the United States. For those who are U.S. citizens, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. with this type of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For those who are lawful permanent residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Family preference green cards differ in process from immediate family green cards, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your Richmond, VT family green card lawyer can help you to decide the most fitting category of green card, reconnecting you with your family so you can establish and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Family-Preference Green Cards Work in Richmond, VT?
To get started, the family member located in Richmond, VT who is a US citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection required for sponsorship. As soon as that form 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 request a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative is assigned a preference category, 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. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Often, Richmond, VT applicants have to wait for years or in some cases, even decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Richmond, VT
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires significant efforts and legal understanding. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly depending on the country 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 necessary to file as early as is feasible and with accurate information. Your Richmond, VT family immigration lawyer can help you with the documentation and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Your Richmond, Vermont immigration attorney can assist you with understanding regulations and laws that change regularly and clarify confusing paperwork. They have a grasp of application timetables and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can reduce wait times, enjoy a more streamlined process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Richmond, VT as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Richmond, VT. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our team of multicultural and multilingual lawyers can guide your family through the immigration procedures and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We’re here to help with your and your family member's immigration needs. Get started with a free case evaluation today.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.