Portsmouth, VA Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card permits particular family members of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents of Portsmouth, VA, and the entire United States. With U.S. citizens, family members that can come to the U.S. with this green card include spouses, children and siblings (providing that the citizen is over 21). For those who are 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 designed for the parents, minor children, and spouses of U.S. citizens. Family green card attorneys in Portsmouth, VA can assist your family in determining the right green card category to pursue, helping you unite with your family to establish and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Portsmouth, VA?
To get started, the family member located in Portsmouth, VA who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen must file Form I-130, called a Petition for Alien Relative. This form verifies the familial connection required for sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member outside the United States has to stand by for visas to be available depending on when they applied and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the applying relative is already in the United States legally, they can petition for a status adjustment with various forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative falls into a category of preference, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. First Preference, or F1, for example 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. Many Portsmouth, VA applicants end up waiting for years and, in some cases, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Portsmouth, VA?
The United States immigration procedure is time-consuming and necessitates hard work and particular know-how. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can differ depending on the country you’re immigrating from and which preference category you belong to. 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 all of your correct data . Your Portsmouth, VA family immigration lawyer can assist with all the required paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Portsmouth, VA immigration lawyers can assist you in complying with regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They know the application’s schedules and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With experienced attorneys representing you and your family, you can reduce wait times, benefit from a smoother experience, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Portsmouth, VA as Your Family Immigration Lawyer
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Portsmouth, VA. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys can guide your family through the immigration procedures 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 working with Weinstock Immigration Lawyers today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.