U.S. Family-Based Immigrant Visas
Close relative who is a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
Family-based immigrants to the United States are divided into two categories:
I) Those who may obtain permanent residence status without numerical
limitation, and
II) Those subject to an annual limitation. (226,000 visas minimum annually).
I. UNLIMITED IMMIGRANTS
- Immediate Relatives: The spouse, widow(er) and minor unmarried children of
a United States citizen, and the parents of a United States citizen who is 21 or
older.
- Returning Residents: Previous U.S. lawful permanent residents
who are returning to the U.S. after a stay of more than one year abroad.
II. LIMITED FAMILY BASED IMMIGRANTS
These immigrants are granted visas on a preference basis. In practical
terms, this means that there is a waiting period for these visas. Also, the higher
your preference category, the longer you will have to wait for your visa.
Preference relatives may receive all of the visas not used by Immediate
Relatives, but no less than 226,000 visas per year.
Family-based preference categories (with minimum limits in parentheses)
include:
- First Preference: Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and children if
any. (23,400)
- Second Preference: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons and daughters of lawful
permanent resident aliens. (114,200)
- Third Preference: Married sons and daughters
of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and children. (23,400)
- Fourth Preference:
Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and children, provided
the U.S. citizens are over 20. (65,000)
APPLYING FOR YOUR VISA
If you are the potential beneficiary of a family-based immigration visa,
your U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative will have to petition for you.
Once a petition is approved by the INS, you will have to wait for your visa to become
available.
Once your visa becomes available, you will be sent another notice and
you will have to appear at the United States consulate nearest your place of residence
for a screening interview. Please be aware that initial approval of your petition
does not guarantee that you will be admitted to the United States. You must still
satisfy the government of the United States that you are not excludable from entry
to the United States under existing law.
Rosenblatt Associates can assist you with all your immigration
needs, including preparing all petitions and applications, and assembling all the
documentation you will need to adjust your status to that of permanent resident
of the United States
Free Personalized United States Immigration Assessment
