For Family
MARRIAGE
MARRIAGE
A green card through marriage to a US citizen is the most common way to become a permanent resident. The spouse of a US citizen is an “immediate relative”. This means that there is no limit on the number of people who can obtain green cards through marriage to US citizens.
The US citizen starts the process by submitting a form I-130 visa petition on behalf of his/her spouse. If the spouse entered the US lawfully, he/she can file for Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) at the same time and get a green card without having to leave the US.
Helpful information for those seeking a green card through marriage is available at:
Tips on How to Prepare for Your Green Card Marriage Interview
Green Card Marriage Questions
If the marriage is less than two years old when the green card is granted, it will expire in two years. The couple must submit a form I-751 joint petition during the 90-day period prior before the expiration of the green card. This way, the foreign-born spouse can obtain a ten-year green card.
If you have a two-year green card, but get divorced, see our video I-751 Waiver Where Marriage Ends in Divorce.
You can stay up-to-date with the waiting times in the Visa Bulletin by subscribing to our Free E-Mail Newsletter. Also, see our Coronavirus – Immigration Updates page.
IMMEDIATE RELATIVES
Under U.S. immigration laws, immediate relatives include:
• Spouses of U.S. citizens (IR-1);
• Unmarried children under 21 years old of U.S. citizens (IR-2);
• Orphans adopted abroad by U.S. citizens (IR-3);
• Orphan to be adopted in the United States by U.S. citizens (IR-4); and
• Parents of U.S. citizens who are at least 21 years old.
Immediate relatives are permitted to get green cards without any quota restrictions. As a practical matter, most immediate relatives are able to become permanent residents within 12 months.
The U.S. citizen must petition for each immediate relative individually. For instance, if a U.S. citizen woman marries a man with 2 young children, she must submit 3 separate I-130 visa petitions to the USCIS, one for her spouse and one for each of her step-children. Each of these beneficiaries is required to submit a separate application for a green card.
If the marriage on which the immediate relative relationship is based is less than 2 years old, the spouse and children (if any) will receive 2-year green cards.
PARENTS
Green cards for parents may be sponsored by their adult U.S. citizen sons and daughters. Parents of US citizens who are 21 years of age or older are considered “immediate relatives” and are not subject to numerical immigration quotas.
Green cards for parents only takes as long as needed for the paperwork to move through the bureaucracy. If your parents entered the United States lawfully, they may adjust their status to permanent residents without having to leave the U.S. This is true even if your parents have overstayed their status.
However, if you parents entered the United States without inspection, they will have to return to their country in order to be interviewed for green cards. In addition, they may need to get I-601A unlawful presence waivers.
SINGLE ADULT SON/DAUGHTER
US citizen parents may apply for green cards for unmarried sons and daughters who are 21 years of age and older. This is true whether their son or daughter has never married or if they are divorced or widowed. Their grandchildren may also immigrate at the same time as their parent as long as they are under the age of 21 and unmarried.
President Trump has suspended the issuance of immigrant visas for unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens until the end of 2020. However, unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens who are lawfully present in the US may adjust their status within the U.S.
Only 23,400 persons annually are able to obtain green cards for unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. Considering that there are over 280,000 people already in line, the wait can be up to 7 or 8 years.
MARRIED SON DAUGHTER
Citizens of the United States can obtain green cards for married children. Their spouses and children, if unmarried and under the age of 21, may also immigrate with them. If their children turn 21 during the petitioning process, they can subtract the time that your visa petition was pending from their ages at the time that their priority date becomes current under the Child Status Protection Act.
However, obtaining green cards for married children can be a lengthy process due to US immigration laws which limit the number persons that are able to immigrate in this category each year. This number is currently set at 23,400 persons annually and considering over 800,000 people are already waiting in line, it will take about 10 to 11 years until they are able to immigrate. There are also country quotas in place which will increase the waiting time for those who were born in the Philippines and Mexico to over 20 years.
BROTHER/SISTER
BROTHER/SISTER
Adult U.S. citizens can get green cards for brothers and sisters by sponsoring them with the USCIS.
If your brothers and sisters are married, their spouses and children can immigrate to the U.S. together with them. Their children have to be unmarried and under the age of 21. If they turn 21 during the process, you can subtract the time that your visa petition was pending from their age at the time that their priority date becomes current under the Child Status Protection Act.
Legal Permanent Residents are ineligible to sponsor green cards for brothers and sisters.
SPOUSE/CHILD OF LPR
A lawful permanent residents (LPR) of the US can apply for his/her spouse and children to green cards.
Start by filing a form I-130 visa petition for your spouse and children.
President Trump has suspended the issuance of immigrant visas for spouses and unmarried sons and daughters of green card holder until the end of 2020. However, spouses and sons and daughters who are lawfully present in the US may adjust their status within the U.S.
Historically, the process could take a couple of years under the family-based 2A category (spouses and unmarried children of LPRs) since the number of people who are allowed to immigrate under this category are limited. And due to per-country limitations, if you were born in a country where many people are seeking to immigrate to the US, the wait could be even longer.
However, since 2019, the family-based 2A category has been current meaning that there are no backlogs in this current. As a result, it fast and easy to get green cards for your spouse and children if you are a lawful permanent resident of the United States.
SINGLE ADULT SON/DAUGHTER OF LPR
I am a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the US. How can I apply for my unmarried adult son or daughter to get a green card?
Start by filing a form I-130 visa petition for your unmarried adult son or daughter. However, the process could take a many years under the family-based 2B category (unmarried adult sons and daughters of LPRs) since the number of people who are allowed to immigrate under this category are extremely limited. And due to per-country limitations, if you were born in a country where many people are seeking to immigrate to the US, the wait could be off the chart (i.e., 28+ years for persons born in the Philippines, 115+ years for persons born in Mexico).
If you later naturalize and become a US citizen, your unmarried adult sons and daughters will retain the priority date of the 2B visa petition and will automatically convert to the 1st preference category (unmarried adult sons and daughters of US citizens).
If the wait under the 1st preference category turns out to be longer, the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) permits your son or daughter to “opt-out” of the conversion, and return to the 2B category despite the fact that you are now a US citizen.
ADOPTION
Getting a green card through adoption can be a complex process.
U.S. citizens and green card holders who wish to adopt a child from a foreign country need to know how to find and adopt a child, how the legal process works in the foreign country, and how to obtain learn more about obtaining a green card through adoption.
United States immigration law provides three different processes through which someone may immigrate on the basis of an intercountry adoption. An individual may obtain a green card through adoption under one of these provisions only if the individual’s adoption meets all the requirements of that specific process.
GREEN CARD
Citizens of the United States can obtain green cards for married children. Their spouses and children, if unmarried and under the age of 21, may also immigrate with them. If their children turn 21 during the petitioning process, they can subtract the time that your visa petition was pending from their ages at the time that their priority date becomes current under the Child Status Protection Act.
However, obtaining green cards for married children can be a lengthy process due to US immigration laws which limit the number persons that are able to immigrate in this category each year. This number is currently set at 23,400 persons annually and considering over 800,000 people are already waiting in line, it will take about 10 to 11 years until they are able to immigrate. There are also country quotas in place which will increase the waiting time for those who were born in the Philippines and Mexico to over 20 years.
Fill In The Required Form
You must need to fill the required form to apply for foreign visa and to get that desired visa.
Submit Your Original Documents
You have to submit the original document and other information due to get the visa in time.
Get The Visa Resource Material
After completing all the tasks you will get your resource material for a visa in some days.
FAQ
How long does it take for a Transit Visa to process?
If you chose one of the 11 service centers, you must pick up your passport within 14 days; if you chose one of the 22 Blue Dart Courier service sites, you must pick up your passport within 7 days; otherwise it will be returned to the Embassy or Consulate.
What is the fee structure for visa submission?
It varies depending on the country. It is difficult to say.
What are the important things to know as a Transit Visa applicant?
You must need to know details about versity and how much it costs. Is it possible to work when you are a university student and little more things.