La Crosse, WI Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card permits specified family members of United States citizens and permanent residents to themselves become permanent residents in La Crosse, WI and the United States in general. With U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this green card include spouses, children (whether single or married) and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For lawful permanent residents, the family members who may qualify for this green card include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children over 21.
Green Cards for Family Preference Immigrants are different in application from immediate family member green cards, which are for spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens. Family green card attorneys in La Crosse, WI can assist your family in determining the right green card category to pursue, helping your family to reconnect and begin and continue your life together in the United States.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in La Crosse, WI?
To begin, the La Crosse, WI family member who is either a United States citizen or permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, known as a Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship needed for sponsorship. When USCIS later approves the petition, the family member who lives abroad are required to wait for visas to become available based on their application date and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the relative is legally in the U.S. already, they can request a status adjustment by filing forms including I-485.
Every eligible kind of family member falls into a category of preference, which each have their own annual limits. For example, First Preference, or F1, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Often, La Crosse, WI applicants have to wait for years or in many instances, decades for a family-sponsored green card to come.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in La Crosse, WI?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and significant efforts and legal knowledge. The USCIS does not disclose estimated processing times for family-based petitions, which can vary significantly depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your assigned preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. With that kind of waiting period, you must apply as early as possible and with complete accuracy. Your La Crosse, WI family immigration lawyer can help prepare all the necessary paperwork and help ensure that it is properly filed for your desired visa.
Immigration lawyers in La Crosse, WI can also help you navigate ever-changing laws and regulations and interpret complex documentation. They understand the application timelines and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. With experienced legal representation on your side, you can reduce wait times, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Why Choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers As Your La Crosse, WI Family Immigration Lawyer
When applying for a family-based green card, pick Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in La Crosse, WI. Our founder immigrated to the U.S. herself, and our team includes many individuals who are immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our multilingual, multicultural team of 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 assist with your and your family's immigration necessities. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.