Family-Based Immigration: How to Bring Family to the U.S.
Family-based immigration is the process that allows U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents to sponsor close relatives for a green card. It is the most common path to permanent residence in the United States.
If you are wondering how to bring a family member to live permanently in the U.S., this guide gives you the overview you need.
Key Takeaways
- Only U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents can sponsor a relative for a green card.
- Immediate relatives face no visa cap; family preference categories do, creating waits of years or decades.
- Every case starts with Form I-130 — errors and missing documents are the most common cause of delays.
- After I-130 approval, relatives apply through adjustment of status (inside the U.S.) or consular processing (abroad).
- Nearly all sponsors must prove household income meets at least 125% of the federal poverty level.
Who Can Sponsor a Relative for a Green Card
Only U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents may petition for a family member through family-based immigration. The relationship between the sponsor and the relative must fall within a category that U.S. immigration law recognizes.
U.S. citizens may petition for a broader range of relatives. Lawful permanent residents and nationals may only sponsor spouses and unmarried children.
The sponsor — called the petitioner — is the person who lives in the United States and files the paperwork on the relative's behalf. The relative seeking the green card is called the beneficiary.
Immediate Relative and Family Preference Categories
U.S. immigration law divides family-based immigration into two main groups: immediate relative categories and family preference categories. The most important difference between them is wait time.
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens face no annual visa cap. A visa number is always available for them. Family preference categories are subject to annual limits set by Congress, which means eligible applicants must wait for a visa number to become available before they can move forward.
The table below shows all family-based immigration categories, who qualifies, and whether annual visa limits apply.
| Category | Who Qualifies | Annual Visa Limit | Derivative Beneficiaries Allowed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| IR-1 / CR-1 | Spouse of a U.S. citizen (CR-1 if married less than 2 years) | No cap | No |
| IR-2 | Unmarried child (under 21) of a U.S. citizen | No cap | No |
| IR-3 | Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. citizen | No cap | No |
| IR-4 | Orphan to be adopted in the U.S. by a U.S. citizen | No cap | No |
| IR-5 | Parent of a U.S. citizen (petitioner must be 21 or older) | No cap | No |
| F1 | Unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of U.S. citizens | 23,400 per year | Yes |
| F2A | Spouses and unmarried children (under 21) of lawful permanent residents | ~87,934 per year | Yes |
| F2B | Unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of lawful permanent residents | ~26,266 per year | Yes |
| F3 | Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens | 23,400 per year | Yes |
| F4 | Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (petitioner must be 21 or older) | 65,000 per year | Yes |
For a full explanation of each category, see:
Starting the Family-Based Immigration Process
Every family immigration case begins with Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. The U.S. sponsor files this form with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to establish that a qualifying family relationship exists. Without an approved I-130, the green card process cannot move forward.
USCIS rejects or denies thousands of I-130 petitions each year. Errors in the petition — missing documents, incorrect answers, or incomplete filing packages — are the most common reasons. Getting the petition right the first time saves months of delay.
Two Paths to a Family-Based Green Card
In most cases, a relative can apply for a green card once USCIS approves the I-130 petition and a visa number is available. Immediate relatives may be able to begin the green card application concurrently. The right path depends on where the relative is living at the time.
Not sure which path applies to your situation? The adjustment of status vs consular processing comparison breaks down the key differences side by side.
Financial Sponsorship Requirements
Nearly all family-sponsored immigration cases require a financial sponsor. The U.S. sponsor submits Form I-864, Affidavit of Support. This is a legally binding contract in which the sponsor agrees to financially support the immigrant. USCIS requires the sponsor's household income to be at or above 125% of the federal poverty level for their household size.
If the petitioner's income falls short, a joint sponsor can help. A joint sponsor takes on the same legal obligation as the primary sponsor and must meet the same income threshold. Before getting started on Form I-864, sponsors can do a preliminary check of their income with CitizenPath's free Visa Sponsor Income Calculator →
Priority Dates and Wait Times
When USCIS accepts a Form I-130 petition, it assigns a priority date. This date marks the immigrant's place in line. For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, the wait is minimal because no annual visa cap applies.
For family preference categories, the priority date matters a great deal. The U.S. Department of State publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin that shows which priority dates are current — meaning a visa number is available. Applicants in preference categories cannot move forward until their priority date becomes current. CitizenPath's guide to how the visa bulletin works explains how to read it and what to do when your date is approaching. Or, for a free personalized estimate, use our free Green Card Wait Time Estimator →
Wait times for preference categories vary by country of birth and can range from a few years to several decades for heavily backlogged nationalities. For current USCIS timelines by category, see I-130 processing time →
Start Your Application with Confidence
CitizenPath helps thousands of families prepare green card applications affordably and accurately. Our step-by-step software makes it easy to complete USCIS forms, avoid mistakes, and get approved quickly. You get real, human support when it matters.
What Happens After the I-130 Is Approved
I-130 approval is an important milestone, but it is not the end of the process. What happens next depends on whether a visa number is immediately available and which green card path the family is using.
For immediate relatives, the next step usually begins quickly. For preference category applicants, approval means they have secured a place in line — but they must wait for their priority date to become current before proceeding. The full guide to what happens after I-130 approval walks through every scenario and what to expect at each stage.
Costs of Family-Based Immigration
The total cost of family immigration depends on the path taken and the forms required. Expenses typically include USCIS filing fees, State Department processing fees, the immigration medical exam, and document preparation costs. Most families spend several thousand dollars from the I-130 petition through the final green card approval. For a full breakdown of what to expect, see the guide to immigration costs for family-based cases.
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