Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Dahlgren, VA
A Family Preference Green Card permits specified family members of people who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Dahlgren, VA and all of the United States. With U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. with this green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For lawful permanent residents, the relatives eligible for this 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 for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Your Dahlgren, VA family green card lawyer can assist your family in determining the right green card category to pursue, helping you unite with your family to establish and grow your lives together in the United States.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Dahlgren, VA?
To begin, the Dahlgren, VA family member who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection 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 based on the date they apply and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can request a status adjustment through form I-485 and others.
Every relative type who is eligible is assigned a preference category, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. For example, First Preference, or F1, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. F1 is allocated 23,400 of 226,000 available yearly family preference green cards. Dahlgren, VA applicants often wait for years or in some cases, even decades for family preference green cards to open up.
The Benefits of Hiring a Family-Based Green Card Lawyer in Dahlgren, VA
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires hard work and legal understanding. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can differ which varies based on your nationality and your preference category. However, some have reported fifteen-year or more wait for an F4 (sibling) visa. When you face this kind of potential delay, you must apply as early as possible and with all of your correct data . Family immigration lawyers near you in Dahlgren, VA can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Your Dahlgren, Virginia immigration attorney can also help you navigate ever-changing laws and regulations and interpret complex documentation. They understand the application timelines and can assist you and your family members in getting ready for visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can reduce wait times, benefit from a smoother experience, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your Dahlgren, VA Family Immigration Lawyer
When applying for a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Dahlgren, VA. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, 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 as we offer some of the industry’s highest success rates.* We're ready to help with your and your family member's immigration needs. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.