Family Petitions

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U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) can sponsor specific family members to immigrate to the United States via a family-based petition. If you are planning to sponsor your family members, keep in mind that there are two family-based immigrant categories: immediate relative and family preference.

Immediate relatives are:

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• A spouse

• A minor (under 21), unmarried child of a U.S. citizen

• Unmarried son or daughter over 21

• Married son or daughter of any age

If you are a U.S. citizen and you are over 21, you may petition your siblings and your parents.

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There are four family preferences:

• First Preference (F-1) – unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens

• Second Preference (F-2) – spouses, children, and unmarried sons and daughters of LPRs

• Third Preference (F-3) – married sons and daughters of citizens

• Fourth Preference (F-4) – brothers and sisters of adult citizens

Immigrating through a Family member

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If one of your immediate relatives (parents, children, siblings, spouses) is a U.S. citizen, you should already be eligible for a green card or visa. The relative in question must maintain a primary residence in the United States and file a Petition for Alien Relative, also known as Form I-130, to begin your citizenship application. Once this form has been reviewed and approved by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), you will receive a visa number and be eligible for a green card.

 

If you are already living in the United States, you will be able to apply for a green card as soon as you receive your visa number. Immigrants living outside of the United States will be sent a visa by the National Visa Center, who will provide them instructions on what to do next.

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Keep in mind that the Visas are limited. Your family relationship will determine your priority on the waiting list.

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Priority for visa applicants:

• Immediate family members, including spouses of U.S. citizens, unmarried children under 21, and parents of citizens over 21, do not have to wait for a visa.

• Unmarried children over 21 of U.S. citizensare given first preference in the visa waiting list

• Spouses of green card holdersare given second priority

• Married children of U.S. citizensare given third priority

• Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizensare given fourth priority

Eligible Petitioners

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• Spouse (Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) or United States citizen (USC))

• Child (United States citizen and 21 or older)

• Includes stepchildren if you married the parent before the child’s 18th birthday

• Parent (LPR or USC)

• Sibling (USC and 18 or older)

• Includes half-siblings

• Includes step siblings

• if you were both under 18 when parents married, and they remain married

• Includes adopted siblings if you were both under 16 when adopted