How does Family-Based Immigration work in the United States, and who qualifies?

Family-based immigration lets US citizens and lawful permanent residents sponsor close relatives for a green card. Immediate relatives of US citizens — spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents — have no annual visa cap, which usually makes their path quicker. US citizens can also sponsor adult children and siblings, while permanent residents can sponsor spouses and unmarried children, all under the family-preference categories.

To qualify, there must be a genuine qualifying family relationship, and the sponsor files a Form I-130 and meets the Affidavit of Support income rules to show they can financially support the relative.

Family-preference categories are subject to annual and per-country limits, so wait times depend heavily on the category and the applicant's country of birth, as published in the monthly Visa Bulletin. Once a visa is available, the relative completes adjustment of status in the US or consular processing abroad. ACME can help you identify the right category and prepare the petition, and current rules should be confirmed with USCIS.