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Timeline can vary for a family-based green card

On Behalf of | Apr 30, 2015 | Family Immigration |

A family-based green card be a valuable tool to reunite or keep family members together as they build new lives in the United States. Anyone in Maryland who wishes to pursue a green card based on a family relationship may want to be aware of the specifics of the process. It is vital to understand that certain relationships will get preference and the timeline can vary according to the relationship between family members.

Current green card holders and relatives of U.S. citizens can pursue family-based green cards for relatives. The highest preference is given to spouses, parents and children under the age of 21 who have a parent who is a U.S. citizen. If there are no unforeseen obstacles, the process may take less than a year.

Other family members can benefit from the family-based green card program, also. This can include married children of U.S. citizens or brothers and sisters of citizens. A person’s country of origin also plays a role in whether a family-based green card pursuit will be successful. If the family member is coming from the Philippines, Mexico, China or India, the timeline can be extended, as there are large numbers of people emigrating from those countries.

The individual nuances of each case can have an impact on how successful the pursuit of a family-based green card can actually be, as no two cases are exactly alike. For those in Maryland wishing to obtain this kind of green card for a family member, being aware of the timeline and how relationships play a role can ease a lot of anxiety and lessen the amount of confusion about the process. Our website offers more details about how to obtain permanent residency for family members.

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