General Requirements for Eligibility
To be eligible for family based green card and legal permanent resident (LPR) status, relatives must have a sponsor or connection to the US in the form of close family ties to US citizens or permanent residents. The spouse, unmarried children (under 21), and parents of a LPR or US citizen who is at least 21 years old are considered immediate relatives (IR) eligible for LPR status. As most preferred among family members, the usual numerical limit does not apply to IR.
Benefit
Successful filing and acceptance of the petition allows the immediate relative to live and work permanently in the US without time limitations. These benefits transfer to immediate family members, so no separate immigrant visa petition is required on behalf of immediate family members.
Other family members
Each non-IR family member must qualify separately as an immediate relative. Other family members of somebody who qualifies as an immediate relative are not as preferred as immediate relatives and are grouped into “preference” rankings as follows:
F1: Unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of US citizens, and their children
F2: Spouses, minor children (under 21), and unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of lawful permanent residents
F3: Married sons and daughters of US citizens (regardless of age), and their spouses and children
F4: Brothers and sisters of adult US citizens (21 or older), and their spouses and children
For more info: email to info@skeelaw.com
To be eligible for family based green card and legal permanent resident (LPR) status, relatives must have a sponsor or connection to the US in the form of close family ties to US citizens or permanent residents. The spouse, unmarried children (under 21), and parents of a LPR or US citizen who is at least 21 years old are considered immediate relatives (IR) eligible for LPR status. As most preferred among family members, the usual numerical limit does not apply to IR.
Benefit
Successful filing and acceptance of the petition allows the immediate relative to live and work permanently in the US without time limitations. These benefits transfer to immediate family members, so no separate immigrant visa petition is required on behalf of immediate family members.
Other family members
Each non-IR family member must qualify separately as an immediate relative. Other family members of somebody who qualifies as an immediate relative are not as preferred as immediate relatives and are grouped into “preference” rankings as follows:
F1: Unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of US citizens, and their children
F2: Spouses, minor children (under 21), and unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of lawful permanent residents
F3: Married sons and daughters of US citizens (regardless of age), and their spouses and children
F4: Brothers and sisters of adult US citizens (21 or older), and their spouses and children
For more info: email to info@skeelaw.com