Family-Based Green Cards:
Spouse, Children, Parents, and Siblings
"Family-based" green card opportunities are
available if you have a qualifying family member, such as a spouse,
child, parent or sibling, who is willing to petition for you. The
family member must be either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
In some cases,
the family member must wait until a visa becomes available before he
or she may become a permanent resident of the United States.
The availability of these opportunities depends
primarily on whether the relative in the United States is a
U.S. citizen or only a lawful permanent resident (i.e., LPR or green
card holder). Relatives of U.S. citizens generally can
immigrate sooner than relatives of U.S. green card holders. The process also depends on the type of family relationship.
Spouses and unmarried children can usually immigrate
faster than any other relatives. Parents can immigrate quickly,
too, but only if their child is a U.S. citizen (and not just a
U.S. green card holder). Brothers and sisters can be really slow,
sometimes taking decades to immigrate.
If you would like additional information to
see if you may qualify for a family-based green card, please
contact Peng & Weber for an
evaluation or consultation.
National Interest Waivers