Family-Based Green Cards: A Complete Guide to Immigrating Through Family

Family-based immigration is the most common way people obtain lawful permanent residence (a green card) in the United States. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people receive green cards through their relationships with U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. If you have a qualifying family member already in the U.S., this guide explains how the process works and what to expect.

The Two Categories: Immediate Relatives vs. Family Preference

Not all family relationships are treated equally under U.S. immigration law. The most important distinction is between 'immediate relatives' of U.S. citizens and everyone else.

Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens (No Annual Cap)

Immediate relatives are the spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens. This category has no annual numerical limit, which means there is no waiting list. Once the underlying immigrant petition is approved, a visa is immediately available and you can proceed directly to the green card application.

• Spouse of a U.S. citizen
• Unmarried child under 21 of a U.S. citizen
• Parent of a U.S. citizen (the citizen must be 21 or older to petition for a parent)

Family Preference Categories (Annual Cap — Waiting Lists Apply)

All other qualifying family relationships fall under the 'family preference' categories, which are subject to annual numerical limits. Because demand exceeds the available visas, applicants in these categories often wait years — sometimes decades — for a visa to become available. The four preference categories are:

• F1 — Unmarried adult children (21+) of U.S. citizens
• F2A — Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of lawful permanent residents
• F2B — Unmarried adult children (21+) of lawful permanent residents
• F3 — Married children of U.S. citizens
• F4 — Siblings of U.S. citizens (the citizen must be 21 or older)

Wait times vary enormously by category and by the applicant's country of birth. Applicants born in countries with high demand — particularly Mexico, the Philippines, China, and India — often face significantly longer waits than those born in other countries. The State Department publishes the Visa Bulletin monthly, which shows which priority dates are currently being processed.

Step 1: Filing the Immigrant Petition (Form I-130)

The family-based immigration process begins with the U.S. citizen or permanent resident family member (the 'petitioner') filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with USCIS. This form establishes the qualifying family relationship. The priority date — the date USCIS receives the I-130 petition — is critical: it determines your place in line for the preference categories.