Charles Town, WV Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants allows particular family members of current U.S. citizens and permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in Charles Town, WV and the entire United States. If someone is a U.S. citizen, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. with this green card include spouses, children and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). With lawful permanent U.S. residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Family green card attorneys in Charles Town, WV can help your family decide the appropriate category of green card to apply for, helping you unite with your family to establish or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Charles Town, WV Family-Based Green Cards Work?
To begin, the Charles Town, WV family member who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident has to file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection necessary for the sponsorship. As soon as that form is approved, the family member outside the United States has to stand by for visas to be available depending on when they applied 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 falls into a category of preference, 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 only 23,400 of 226,000 family preference green cards each year. Charles Town, WV applicants often wait for years or in many instances, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Charles Town, WV?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and hard work and in-depth expertise. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can vary significantly based on where you're immigrating from and your designated preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. If you're facing the potential of such a long wait, you must apply as early as possible and with the utmost accuracy. Your Charles Town, WV family immigration lawyer can help you present the requisite documents and ensure everything is properly filed for the correct visa.
Charles Town, WV immigration lawyers can also help you navigate 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. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can reduce wait times, undergo a more seamless process, and boost your likelihood of success.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Charles Town, WV: Your Family Immigration Attorney
If you or a family member plans to apply for a family preference green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Charles Town, WV. Our founder personally immigrated to the United States, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have immigrant family members themselves. Our multicultural, multilingual attorneys can guide your family through the immigration procedures and enjoy some of the industry's highest rates of approval.* We're ready to assist with your and your family member's immigration needs. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not guarantee the same results.