Family Immigrant Visas - Migrate to America

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How does the family immigration visa program in America work?

This page describes how you (a U.S. citizen) may petition for certain family members to receive either a green card, a fiancee visa or a K-3/K-4 Visa based on your relationship. (If your relative wishes to naturalize or obtain proof of citizenship, see the “Citizenship” section of our website.)

Table: Relatives for Whom You (U.S. Citizen) May Petition

Type of Relative for Whom You May Petition	Immigration Benefit	Guidance	Related Forms
Spouse Children(unmarried and under 21) Sons and daughters(married and/or 21 or over) Parents, if you are 21 or over Siblings, if you are 21 or over	Green Card (Permanent Residence)	How Do I Help My Relative Become a Permanent Resident? (Guide for U.S. Citizens)	Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status Form I-864, Affidavit of Support
A fiancé(e) residing outside the United States and children of fiancé(e) under 21	Fiancé(e) Visa	How Do I Help My Fiance(é) Become a Permanent Resident?	Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)
Spouse Children of spouse (unmarried and under 21)	K-3/K-4 Nonimmigrant Visa	K-3/K-4 Nonimmigrant Visas	Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Application Process: Green Card (Permanent Residence)

To petition for a family member to receive a green card (permanent residence), you begin by filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. This form establishes the family relationship that exists between you and your relative. Sometimes the I-130 can be filed together with an application for permanent residence, officially know as Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. This is discussed below.

Which Relatives May I petition for?

Immediate Relatives	Other Family Members
The term “immediate relative(s)” is used to define certain immigrant relatives of U.S. citizens. Immediate relatives include: Spouses of U.S. citizens Children (unmarried and under 21) of U.S. citizens Parents of U.S. citizens (The petitioning citizen must be 21 or older.) For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, visas are always available, which means that your family member does not need to wait in line for a visa. Immediate relatives who are in the United States can file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status at the same time as Form I-130. For more information on how your relative can apply to adjust status (i.e. get a green card) while he or she is in the United States, see the “How Do I Help My Relative Become a Permanent Resident?” guide.	Preference categories apply to family members who are not immediate relatives. The visas alloted for these categories are subject to annual numerical limits. A visa becomes available to a preference category based on the priority date (the date the Form I-130 was filed). Preference categories are grouped as follows: First preference: Unmarried, adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens (adult means 21 or older.) Second Preference (2A): Spouses of green card holders, unmarried children (under 21) of permanent residents Second Preference (2B): Unmarried adult sons and daughters of permanent residents Third Preference: Married sons and daughters (any age) of U.S. citizens Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens For current wait times, see the “USCIS Processing Time Information” page on this website and the “Visa Bulletin” page on the U.S. Department of State website. For more information on priority dates, see the “Visa Availability and Priority Dates” page.

Immediate Relatives

Other Family Members

The term “immediate relative(s)” is used to define certain immigrant relatives of U.S. citizens. Immediate relatives include:

Spouses of U.S. citizens
Children (unmarried and under 21) of U.S. citizens
Parents of U.S. citizens (The petitioning citizen must be 21 or older.)

For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, visas are always available, which means that your family member does not need to wait in line for a visa. Immediate relatives who are in the United States can file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status at the same time as Form I-130. For more information on how your relative can apply to adjust status (i.e. get a green card) while he or she is in the United States, see the “How Do I Help My Relative Become a Permanent Resident?” guide.

Preference categories apply to family members who are not immediate relatives. The visas alloted for these categories are subject to annual numerical limits. A visa becomes available to a preference category based on the priority date (the date the Form I-130 was filed). Preference categories are grouped as follows:

First preference: Unmarried, adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens (adult means 21 or older.)
Second Preference (2A): Spouses of green card holders, unmarried children (under 21) of permanent residents
Second Preference (2B): Unmarried adult sons and daughters of permanent residents
Third Preference: Married sons and daughters (any age) of U.S. citizens
Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens

For current wait times, see the “USCIS Processing Time Information” page on this website and the “Visa Bulletin” page on the U.S. Department of State website. For more information on priority dates, see the “Visa Availability and Priority Dates” page.

What Happens Next?

If your relative is already in the United States, he or she may apply to adjust status to become a green card holder (permanent resident) after a visa number becomes available using Form I-485.
If your relative is outside the United States, your petition will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC will forward your petition to the appropriate U.S. consulate when a visa becomes available and your relative will be notified about how to proceed. This process is referred to as “Consular Processing.”
Your family member’s preference category will determine how long he or she will have to wait for an immigrant visa number.