Green Card For Family

Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants

U.S. immigration law allows certain noncitizens who are family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to become lawful permanent residents (get a Green Card) based on specific family relationships. If you are the spouse, minor child or parent of a U.S. citizen, please see the Green Card for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizen page for information on how to apply for a Green Card.

Other family members eligible to apply for a Green Card are described in the following family “preference immigrant” categories:

First preference (F1) – unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age and older) of U.S. citizens;
Second preference (F2A) – spouses and children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of lawful permanent residents;
Second preference (F2B) – unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age and older) of lawful permanent residents;
Third preference (F3) – married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens; and
Fourth preference (F4) – brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years of age and older).

Eligibility for Adjustment of Status

If you are currently in the United States, you must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a Green Card as a family preference immigrant:

You properly file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status;
You were inspected and admitted or inspected and paroled into the United States;
You are physically present in the United States at the time you file your Form I-485
You are eligible to receive an immigrant visa;
An immigrant visa is immediately available to you at the time you file your Form I-485 and at the time we make a final decision on your application (For information on visa availability, see Visa Availability and Priority Dates, Adjustment of Status Filing Charts, and the Department of State website to view the Visa Bulletin);
The relationship to the family member who filed Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for you still exists;
None of the applicable bars to adjustment of status apply to you;
You are admissible to the United States for lawful permanent residence or eligible for a waiver of inadmissibility or other form of relief; and
You merit the favorable exercise of our discretion (this means the positive factors in your case outweigh the negative factors).

How to Apply

If you are currently in the United States, an immigrant visa is immediately available to you as a family preference immigrant, and you meet certain other requirements, you may file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to apply for a Green Card without leaving the country. If a visa is immediately available, you may file your Form I-485:

Together (“concurrently”) with Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative filed on your behalf;
While the Form I-130 is pending; or
After we approve your Form I-130, as long as your Form I-130 has not been terminated or revoked.