Family immigration in the US
The main route for relatives of US citizens and green card holders to move for good. Immediate relatives go without a queue; more distant relatives fall into preference categories with a waiting list. The petition is filed by the relative who already holds citizenship or permanent residence. Once approved, the case goes to the National Visa Center, which prepares it for the consular interview. At the end come the entry visa and the green card.
Is there a visa queue for your family
The rules and the timescales differ depending on the degree of relationship and on who the petitioner is — a US citizen or a permanent resident.
No queue: immediate relatives of US citizens
- The spouse of a US citizen
- Unmarried children of a US citizen under 21
- Parents of a US citizen, where the petitioner is 21 or over
In the queue: the preference categories
- Unmarried adult children of US citizens
- Spouses and children, and unmarried adult children, of green card holders
- Married children and adult siblings of US citizens
When the programme will not suit you
The partners are in a relationship without a formally registered marriage
You need either to marry first, or to consider the fiancé(e) visa for a marriage to a US citizen that has not yet taken place
A green card holder (permanent resident) wants to file a petition for a married child
That category is open only to US citizens; a permanent resident must first obtain citizenship through naturalisation
A green card holder wants to bring over a brother, a sister or a parent
Petitions for siblings and for parents are open only to US citizens; a permanent resident must naturalise first
A relative wants to bring over extended family — grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins
Such degrees of relationship are not provided for in US family immigration at all; other grounds for moving need to be considered
What it costs
| The visa application processing fee (Form DS-260)paid for each applicant through the CEAC portal after the welcome letter from the National Visa Center has been received | 325 USD |
|---|---|
| The fee for reviewing the affidavit of support (Form I-864)paid once per case, not for each family member | 120 USD |
| Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below. | 445 USD |
Paid separately
- The fee for filing the I-130 petition — paid separately to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the petition stage, before the National Visa Center starts work
- The USCIS Immigrant Fee for producing the green card — paid to USCIS after the visa has been received and before departure for the USA — it covers producing and posting the physical permanent resident card
Documents to gather
The set of documents depends on the category of relationship and the applicant's country, but in most cases you will need:
- A birth certificate
- A marriage certificate and documents on the dissolution of any previous marriages, where applicable
- Police certificates from every country where the applicant has lived long enough for one to be required
- A valid passport
- Photographs in the prescribed format
- The results of a medical examination with a doctor accredited by the embassy or consulate
- A completed affidavit of support (Form I-864) and evidence of the petitioner's income, such as tax returns
- A completed electronic visa application (Form DS-260) and proof of payment of the National Visa Center fees
How the process runs
The route from filing the petition to receiving the visa runs through two agencies — US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the State Department, including the National Visa Center and the embassy or consulate.
- 1
The relative files the I-130 petition
The US citizen or green card holder — the future immigrant's relative — files Form I-130 'Petition for Alien Relative' with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), online or by post.
- 2
USCIS approves the petition
After checking the family relationship and the documents attached, USCIS approves the petition. This confirms the family member's right to apply for a visa in that category of relationship.
- 3
The case is passed to the National Visa Center
The National Visa Center (NVC) begins pre-processing the case and sends the applicant an electronic or paper welcome letter with instructions for the next steps.
- 4
Paying the visa centre fees
The applicant pays the visa application fee and the fee for reviewing the affidavit of support through the CEAC portal — the two fees cannot be paid at the same time.
- 5
Preparing the affidavit of support
The petitioning relative, and where necessary a joint sponsor, completes Form I-864 and gathers financial evidence, such as tax returns.
- 6
Completing the online visa application
The applicant completes the electronic DS-260 application with personal and biographical details for themselves and for each family member immigrating with them.
- 7
Gathering and submitting the civil documents
The applicant uploads birth and marriage certificates, police certificates and other supporting documents for each family member to CEAC.
- 8
The case is found ready for interview
Once all the fees, forms and documents have been accepted, the National Visa Center reports that the case is documentarily complete and passes it to the embassy or consulate to schedule an interview date.
- 9
The medical examination
The applicant is examined by a doctor accredited by the embassy or consulate where the interview will take place.
- 10
The interview at the US embassy or consulate
A consular officer checks the original documents and takes the decision on the visa at a personal interview.
- 11
Entering the USA and obtaining the green card
After entering the country on the approved visa, the immigrant pays a separate fee for producing the green card, after which USCIS makes and sends out the physical permanent resident card.
Timelines and rights
Validity
Immediate relatives have no quota — there is no visa number to wait for. In the preference categories there is a queue: F1 — 23,400 visas a year, F3 — 23,400, F4 — 65,000. Unused numbers flow over from one category to another.
Work
A permanent resident works without a separate permit. While the I-485 is under review, the right to work comes from Form I-765.
Residence
For citizenship you need 5 years of permanent residence and 30 months of physical presence. For spouses of US citizens — 3 years and 18 months.
Who you can bring with you
In the preference categories, the main applicant's own immediate relatives may join them.
The spouse and unmarried children under 21 of a main applicant in the preference categories
Immediate relatives of US citizens — the spouse, children, parents
How it differs from the routes next to it
The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.
| Family immigration | Asylum through USCIS | Asylum through the immigration court | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa term | Immediate relatives have no quota — there is no visa number to wait for | The status is indefinite and is not renewed; the EAD and the travel document are renewed | The status is indefinite, there is no routine renewal |
| Money | The I-130 fee is paid by the petitioner — the US citizen or permanent resident | No government fee for Form I-589; no income or sponsor requirement | No government fee for the I-589 |
| Work | A permanent resident works without a separate permit | After the grant — work without restrictions; while the case is pending, an EAD after 180 days | After the grant — work; while the case is pending, an EAD after 180 days |
| Residence | For citizenship you need 5 years of permanent residence and 30 months of physical presence | No minimum period; physical presence is required, filing within 1 year | Physical presence in the United States is required |
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to permanent residence
Yes, it leads to permanent resident status
Route to citizenship
Once you have the green card you file the N-400: after 5 years, or after 3 if married to a US citizen. In the spousal case the application is accepted 90 days before the end of the period.
Frequently asked questions about Family immigration
How long do you have to wait for a visa in a preference category?
Can the processing of a case be expedited?
What happens if you do not bring all the documents to the interview?
How long is a police certificate valid for?
Can a green card holder file a petition for a brother, a sister or a married child?
Other ways to move to US
- Affirmative AsylumAsylum / refugee status
- Defensive AsylumAsylum / refugee status
- Refugee StatusAsylum / refugee status
- Humanitarian ParoleHumanitarian protection
- TPSHumanitarian protection
- U-Visa / T-VisaHumanitarian protection
- VAWAHumanitarian protection
- EB-5 investor visaInvestment permanent residence
- EB-1 extraordinary ability visaTalent permanent residence
- EB-3 employment immigrationEmployment-based permanent residence
- H-1B work visaWork visa
- DV visa lotteryLottery permanent residence
Every route in one list — migration programmes: US.
The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.