Any foreign resident with dreams of living and working in the United States indefinitely must obtain a green card. Often, securing these visas is possible if you are sponsored by a close family member who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
You do not have to navigate this system on your own. With the help of a dedicated green card lawyer, you can secure lawful residency status in the U.S. if a loved one is able to serve as your sponsor. A Cicero family-based green card lawyer could advise you of your options and ensure you are fully aware of what needs to be done.
There are significant benefits that come with obtaining a green card. When an immigrant becomes a lawful permanent resident, he or she can live in this country without fear of deportation. This status also allows an immigrant to work in the U.S. as well.
For some, the most important reason to secure lawful permanent resident status is that it offers a pathway to citizenship. Being a U.S. citizen gives a person even more rights, including the ability to vote in elections or travel internationally without fear of being unable to re-enter the country.
To qualify for citizenship, an applicant must have a green card for a minimum of five years. That time must be spent physically within the U.S. Applicants must also pass citizenship and language tests. An attorney in Cicero could help a person apply and study for the tests in order to obtain a family-based green card.
It is important to understand that not everyone will face the same challenges when pursuing a family-based visa. The specific relationship the applicant has with their sponsor will determine the path that they must take. A Cicero lawyer could help applicants pursue two unique family-based green card approaches. They are known as immediate relative and family preference systems.
The closest family members of U.S. citizens have a higher priority for green cards compared to other family members. The benefit of qualifying for this approach is that there are no annual visa limits. That means the amount of time it takes to secure a green card is much shorter. The parties who qualify for this option include spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21.
Family members who do not qualify as immediate relatives—including spouses of permanent residents or married children of a citizen—can still pursue a green card through the family preference system. The downside to this path is that there are annual visa limits that are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, which means it might take years to finally have an application approved.
There is a hierarchy when it comes to family preference visas. The higher on the list a person is, the shorter his or her wait will be. Once it is finally an applicant’s time, he or she will need to go through an interview before a final decision is made regarding the visa.
Being sponsored for a visa by a loved one is an incredible opportunity, but that does not make the process simple. Even when everything goes right, it can take years to get a final decision on an application.
A Cicero family-based green card lawyer could provide insight and answers to anyone considering this approach. Call as soon as possible to learn more.
