Green Card Family Based

These visa types are based on a close family relationship with a United States (U.S.) citizen described as an Immediate Relative (IR). The number of immigrants in these categories is not limited each fiscal year. Immediate relative visa types include:

• IR-1: Spouse of a U.S. Citizen Learn More
• IR-2: Unmarried Child Under 21 Years of Age of a U.S. Citizen
• IR-3: Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. Citizen Learn More
• IR-4: Orphan to be adopted in the U.S. by a U.S. citizen Learn More
• IR-5: Parent of a U.S. Citizen who is at least 21 years old

These visa types are for specific, more distant, family relationships with a U.S. citizen and some specified relationships with a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). There are fiscal year numerical limitations on family preference immigrants, shown at the end of each category. The family preference categories are:

• Family First Preference (F1): Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their minor children, if any. (23,400)
• Family Second Preference (F2): Spouses, minor children, and unmarried sons and daughters (age 21 and over) of LPRs. At least seventy-seven percent of all visas available for this category will go to the spouses and children; the remainder is allocated to unmarried sons and daughters. (114,200)
• Family Third Preference (F3): Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and minor children. (23,400)
• Family Fourth Preference (F4): Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and minor children, provided the U.S. citizens are at least 21 years of age. (65,000)

Note: Grandparents, aunts, uncles, in-laws, and cousins cannot sponsor a relative for immigration.

Spouse

If you are a U.S. citizen you have two ways to bring your foreign spouse (husband or wife) to the United States to live. They are

• Immigrant visa for a Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (IR1 or CR1)– An immigrant Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130 is required. Learn more.
• Nonimmigrant visa for spouse (K-3)– It is important to note that application for the nonimmigrant visa for spouse (K-3) who married a U.S. citizen must be filed and the visa must be issued in the country where the marriage took place. After the visa process has been completed, and the visa is issued, the spouse can travel to the United States to wait for the processing of the immigrant visa case. Two petitions are required:  Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130, and Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), Form I-129F. Learn more.

Fiancé

If you are a U.S. citizen, you may bring your fiancé to the United States to marry and live here, with a non immigrant visa for a fiancé (K-1). An I-129F fiancé(e) petition is required. Learn more

1. S. CITIZENSHIP/NATURALIZATION
2. BUSINESS IMMIGRATION/WORK VISAS
   1. Temporary Workers
   2. Permanent Workers