The Green Card Application Process
The term green card applies to many different types of immigration.
Each facet involves a different green card process and separate visa categories.
For example, US immigration law enables certain persons to gain permanent residence due to their familial relationships with US citizens or US Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR).
In each case, the US citizen or LPR must sponsor and petition for his relatives to bring them to the United States.
Depending on the petitioner\'s relationship to the subject, different family-based visa standards are applicable.
The green card process is thus divided into different subcategories.
Immediate Relative Immigrant Visas (Unlimited) consist of different IR visas.
An IR-1 Visa applies to the spouse of a US citizen.
An IR-2 Visa is in reference to unmarried individuals under 21 years of age who are the children of US citizens.
An IR-3 visa pertains to an orphan child who is being adopted by a US citizen.
And an IR-5 visa is for the parent of a US citizen who is at least 21 years of age.
The Family Preference Immigrant Visa Categories (Limited) involve different F Visas.
The Family First Preference Visa (F1) applies to unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens and all of their minor children, if they have any.
Approximately 23,400 visas of this nature are issued per year.
The Family Second Preference (F2) is for spouses, minor children, and unmarried sons and daughters (age 21 and older) of LPRs.
At least 77% of all visas available for this category go to spouses and children; the remaining visas are allocated to unmarried sons and daughters, and 114,200 such visas are issued per year.
The Family Third Preference (F3) is available to married sons and daughters of US citizens as well as their spouses and children: 23,400 of these visas are issued per year.
And the Family Fourth Preference (F4) is for the brothers and sisters of US citizens who are at 21 years of age, as well as their spouses and children; 65,000 visas are issued per year.
In order to get a relative a green card, the US citizen or LPR must file a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with the USCIS to establish his relationship to the person.
A separate form must be completed for each eligible relative who wants to immigrate.
As mentioned above, the applicant may petition on behalf of children, parents, siblings, or spouse.
A US citizen under the age of 21 may only on behalf of his spouse or children.
An LPR may only petition for a spouse or children.
Petitioners who have questions regarding the green card process should contact a US immigration lawyer for additional guidance and support.
Each facet involves a different green card process and separate visa categories.
For example, US immigration law enables certain persons to gain permanent residence due to their familial relationships with US citizens or US Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR).
In each case, the US citizen or LPR must sponsor and petition for his relatives to bring them to the United States.
Depending on the petitioner\'s relationship to the subject, different family-based visa standards are applicable.
The green card process is thus divided into different subcategories.
Immediate Relative Immigrant Visas (Unlimited) consist of different IR visas.
An IR-1 Visa applies to the spouse of a US citizen.
An IR-2 Visa is in reference to unmarried individuals under 21 years of age who are the children of US citizens.
An IR-3 visa pertains to an orphan child who is being adopted by a US citizen.
And an IR-5 visa is for the parent of a US citizen who is at least 21 years of age.
The Family Preference Immigrant Visa Categories (Limited) involve different F Visas.
The Family First Preference Visa (F1) applies to unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens and all of their minor children, if they have any.
Approximately 23,400 visas of this nature are issued per year.
The Family Second Preference (F2) is for spouses, minor children, and unmarried sons and daughters (age 21 and older) of LPRs.
At least 77% of all visas available for this category go to spouses and children; the remaining visas are allocated to unmarried sons and daughters, and 114,200 such visas are issued per year.
The Family Third Preference (F3) is available to married sons and daughters of US citizens as well as their spouses and children: 23,400 of these visas are issued per year.
And the Family Fourth Preference (F4) is for the brothers and sisters of US citizens who are at 21 years of age, as well as their spouses and children; 65,000 visas are issued per year.
In order to get a relative a green card, the US citizen or LPR must file a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with the USCIS to establish his relationship to the person.
A separate form must be completed for each eligible relative who wants to immigrate.
As mentioned above, the applicant may petition on behalf of children, parents, siblings, or spouse.
A US citizen under the age of 21 may only on behalf of his spouse or children.
An LPR may only petition for a spouse or children.
Petitioners who have questions regarding the green card process should contact a US immigration lawyer for additional guidance and support.
Source...