Immigrant Visas

Family Based Immigration

Persons seeking to immigrate in one of the family based preference categories will qualify for immigrant status only if they have the necessary relationship to a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident as described below.

• Unmarried Son or Daughter of a U.S. citizen

• Spouse, Children or Unmarried Son or Daughter of a Lawful Permanent Resident

• Married Son or Daughter of a U.S. Citizen

• Brother or Sister of a U.S. Citizen

U.S. citizen must be 21 or over

The issuance of visas in the family based category is subject to an annual numerical limitation. Therefore each visa type in this category has a waiting time from the date the petition is filed, the “priority date” (once the petition has been accepted as the "Notice of Action"), until the visa actually can be processed.

Check the Visa Bulletin for the latest priority dates.

Note: Grandparents, aunts, uncles, in-laws and cousins cannot sponsor a relative for immigration