Onancock, VA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card for authorizes certain relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Onancock, VA and the entire United States. For U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. under this type of green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, eligible family members for this type of green card include unmarried children no matter what age, and spouses.
Family preference permanent resident 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. A family green card attorney in Onancock, VA can help you to decide the most fitting category of green card, helping you reunite with your family and begin and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Onancock, VA?
To get started, the family member located in Onancock, VA who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form helps demonstrate the family relation required for sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who is not in the United States must remain waiting until visas are obtainable dependent on the date of submission and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can request a status adjustment through forms that include the I-485.
Each eligible type of relative falls into a category of preference, which all have individual annual caps. For example, First Preference, or F1, is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. F1 is allocated only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Often, Onancock, VA applicants have to wait for years and, in some cases, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Onancock, VA?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires substantial work and legal understanding. USCIS does not publish wait times for adjudication of family-based petitions, which can differ which varies based on your nationality and your preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. When you face this kind of potential delay, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with accurate information. A family immigration attorney in Onancock, VA can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Your Onancock, Virginia immigration attorney can help you understand the laws and regulations that change constantly and clarify confusing paperwork. They understand the application timelines 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, benefit from a smoother experience, and improve your family's chances to achieve the desired outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Onancock, VA: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, select Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Onancock, VA. Our founder relocated 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 help your family navigate the legal immigration process and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We're eager to assist with your and your family's immigration necessities. Reach out today for a case evaluation at no cost.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.