Green Card through Relatives General Information: One of the most well-sought after methods of procuring a permanent resident status (a green card) is through a successful petition from close family members of relatives. There are currently nine categories of people who can apply for a green card through their relatives. The speed and ease of the application process for a green card as well as the number of green cards available wholly depends on several factors: the petitioner’s legal status in the United States, the relationship between the petitioner and the applicant, the applicant’s age, and finally, the applicant’s marital status. For example all spouses, parents, unmarried children under the age of 21, and parents and children related through adoption, of United States citizens are considered immediate relatives and therefore have speedier applications than those in other categories. Additionally, an unlimited number of green cards can be issued to immigrants who are immediate relatives of United States citizens. In essence, the closer the applicant’s relationship is to the petitioner, the more rights they have under immigration law.
The process to get a green card through a relative is probably one of the most difficult, confusing, and costly immigration processes.United States Immigration Organization Green Card Through Relatives Information and Application Guide fully describes the intricacies of the relationship web between applicants and petitioners including their rights, if they qualify as immediate relatives or preference relatives, and the speed and ease in the application procedure for all 9 categories- in addition to a complete guide on how to get the green card. The guide is carefully laid out and provides the reader a detailed guideline in the whole application process from start to finish. All the requisite forms and materials are included.
- What’s Included
- Green Card through Relatives overview
- Green Car Eligibility Information
- Application procedures when the sponsoring relative is a Green Card holder
- Application procedures when the sponsoring relative is a U.S. citizen
- Information on Green Card Interviews and Appeals
- How to file the petition and the application
- How to apply for a temporary work authorization to allow employment while the Green Card application is being processed
- How to submit the application at a USCIS office in the United States
- How to submit the application at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad
- List of Required Documents
- Information on Filing Fees
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- List of USCIS Offices Nationwide
- Directory of U.S. Embassies and Consulates
- All Required Application Forms are Included with the Guide
Applicants qualify to submit their applications if and only if they in close relation to a United States citizen through birth or naturalization. Applicants also qualify if they are close-related to current Permanent Residents in the United States under certain conditions.
A family member can petition you for permanent residency under the immediate relative category if:
1. You are a spouse of a US Citizen (please refer to our Green Card through Marriage application)
2. You are an unmarried child of a US Citizen under the age of 21.
3. You are a parent of a US Citizen child aged 21 or older.
4. You are battered and abused spouse, child or parent of a US Citizen.
5. You are Stepparent and stepchild of a US Citizen (under certain conditions)
6. You are Parent and child and related to a US Citizen via adoption (please refer to our Green Card through Adoption section)
A family member can petition you for permanent residency under the Preference category if:
1. You are an child of any age of a US Citizen.
2. You are a spouse of a green card holder.
3. You are an unmarried child of a green card holder.
4. You are a sibling of a US citizen.