People in the United States who have family members who live overseas may want their loved ones to come to this country. One way to do this is through a family sponsorship, which is only available in certain circumstances.
United States citizens and individuals who have a Permanent Resident Card, which is also known as a green card, can sponsor specific family members who want to immigrate to this country. The people they can sponsor vary some, so it’s important to understand what’s allowable.
How do sponsorships differ?
A citizen of this country or green card holder can sponsor their spouse and unmarried children who are under 21 years old. They can also sponsor sons and daughters of any age as long as they’re unmarried. Any children of the sons or daughters can also be included in these petitions.
U.S. citizens can also sponsor their married offspring, as well as those individual’s children. They can also petition for their parents and siblings. Some of these visas have limited availability each year.
There are specific requirements that must be met before the visa is issued. This includes completing applications and going through a process that depends on the immigrant’s location. People in the U.S. will go through the adjustment of status process, but people out of the country will follow the consular processing steps.
Immigration laws and policies change frequently, so it’s best to work with someone familiar with these matters. This may prevent unnecessary delays in processing and other problems.
