To be eligible to sponsor a relative to immigrate to the United States one must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States and be able to provide documentation proving your status.
- Must prove one's ability to support the relative at 125% above the mandated poverty line. Click here to find out more information about meeting this criteria and filing the Affidavit of Support.
Are you a US Citizen?
A US Citizen may petition for the following foreign national relatives to immigrate to the United States; however you must be able to provide proof of the relationships:
- Husband or wife;
- Unmarried child under 21 years old;
- Unmarried son or daughter over 21;
- Married son or daughter of any age;
- Brother or sister, if you are at least 21 years old; or
- Parent, if you are at least 21 years old.
- Husband or wife; or
- Unmarried son or daughter of any age.
- First Preference: Unmarried , adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. Adult means 21 years of age or older.
- Second Preference: Spouses of lawful permanent residents, their unmarried children (under twenty-one), and the unmarried sons and daughters of lawful permanent residents.
- Third Preference: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
- Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens.
Are you a lawful permanent resident?
A lawful permanent resident may petition for the following foreign national relatives to immigrate to the United States; however you must be able to provide proof of the relationships:
The relative you wish to immigrate must obtain an immigrant visa number that is based on the preference category in which they fall.
People who want to become immigrants are classified into categories based on a preference system. The immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, which includes parents, spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21, do not have to wait for an immigrant visa number to become available once the visa petition filed for them is approved by the USCIS. An immigrant visa number will be immediately available for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. The relatives in the remaining categories must wait for an immigrant visa number to become available according to the following preferences:
The information provided throughout the Website is general in nature and may not apply to any particular set of facts or circumstances. It should not be construed as legal advice and does not constitute an engagement of Heller Immigration Law Group, LLP, or establish an attorney-client relationship.
