Immigrating to the United States entails relocating there permanently after applying for and being granted a green card (also known as an “immigrant visa” or “lawful permanent residency”). An individual with a green card is able to work without limitation and can renew their status forever. It’s also a way to become a legal resident of the United States. Green card applications can be costly and time-consuming, and not everyone is qualified to receive one. Temporary visas are used by many people to enter the United States for tourism, business, or education. These visas, formally known as “nonimmigrant visas,” allow you to visit the United States many times and may be renewed, giving you the opportunity to stay for an extended period of time.
Getting to the United States is a goal for many people. The difficulty of entering the United States as an immigrant has startled many. There are restrictions on who and how many permanent residents can enter the United States. If you think you meet the requirements after reading this, you should speak with an immigration lawyer. Spouses of US citizens, parents of US citizens, and minor children of US citizens who have not yet reached legal adulthood are all considered immediate relations. When it comes to close relatives, there is no annual cap on the number of visas that can be issued.
The Spouses of United States Citizens
One of the quickest & easiest ways to enter the United States is by marriage to a citizen. On the other hand, this is where most immigration scams begin. In order to combat immigration fraud, the legislation mandates that couples file a joint petition after two years to demonstrate that their marriage is still genuine.
Parental Citizenship in the United States
Anyone who is at least 21 years old and a US citizen can file a petition on behalf of his or her parents. It is also possible to immigrate rapidly and simply using this petition method.
American Citizen Children
A US citizen’s unmarried minor kid (under 21 years old) is also regarded as a member of the citizen’s immediate family. No waiting period is required for immigration for third- and fourth-degree relatives. Note that once a kid reaches the age of 21, he or she is no longer considered a member of the immediate family and falls into the “first preference” category.
Sons and daughters of U.S. citizens who are not married are given priority
As soon as a US citizen’s kid reaches the age of 21, or marries regardless of age, they are no longer considered a member of the citizen’s immediate family. They are instead classified as a “preference.” All immigration categories, including those with higher priority, have annual quotas that must be adhered to if the United States is to avoid a surge of undocumented workers. There is typically a wait time of a year or more in this category since more people are qualified for immigration than there are slots available.
Adoption Option A2: Spouses and Minor Children of Permanent Residents
Immigrating to the United States under the Second Preference Category A is similarly straightforward. However, after a visa petition is completed and accepted, the spouse must wait anywhere from five (5) to eight (8) years before they may move to the United States. For the record, a spouse cannot accompany their partner to the United States in order to live with them while they wait the required 5 to 8 years for immigration. However, even if a spouse’s visa petition is accepted and they are already in the United States, they are not permitted to stay lawfully until they are allowed to immigrate.
Second Preference B: Children of Permanent Residents Who Are Not Married
Unmarried adult offspring of permanent residents who are at least 21 years old fall into this group. The wait time for minors under the age of 21 is also around five to eight years. Wait times for adults are presently expected to be between 12 and 15 years. Permanent residents can help their children get into the country considerably faster under First Preference as sons and daughters of US citizens if the parents become citizens as soon as they are eligible.
It is often more expedient for a parent to remain a permanent resident than to become a citizen of the United States. A child who has a parent who becomes a naturalised citizen has the option to decline the upgrade.
The third preference category is for the spouses of U.S. citizens.
Adult children of US citizens who marry foreign nationals fall from the First Preference category to the Third Preference category. Petitions cannot be submitted for the spouses and children of permanent residents. They can’t legally enter the country unless at least one of their parents has become a citizen.
In fourth place, we have siblings of American citizens
The United States welcomes the immigrant siblings of its citizens. The US citizen needs to be over the age of 21. But there’s a 12- to 22-year wait (depending on the country of birth). The sibling usually has to wait outside of the country during this period. Instead of waiting for such a lengthy period of time, it is strongly recommended that you look into alternative visa categories.
How to Get a Green Card as a Relative of a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident?
In order to get a visa for a family member, a US citizen or permanent resident must first file a petition. Whether or whether the beneficiary (the relative seeking immigration) is currently located in the United States, the visa petition must be submitted in the United States. The second stage is to apply for permanent residency once the visa petition has been accepted. While the visa petition is being processed, immediate family members in the United States can apply for permanent residency. Until the visa petition is accepted and the applicant’s priority date becomes current, no one else may submit a permanent residence application.








