Family-Based Immigration
Immediate Relatives:
Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens include:
- Spouse of a U.S. Citizen IR-1
-Unmarried child under 21 of a U.S. citizen IR-2
-Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. citizen IR-3
-Orphan to be adopted in the United States by a U.S. citizen IR-4
-Parent of a U.S. Citizen who is at least 21 years old IR-5
Family Preference Family-Based Immigrants
Involve specific, more distant, family relationships with a United States Citizen. It may also involve specific relationships with a Lawful Permanent Resident.
Family First Preference (F1)- Unmarried sons abd daughters of U.S. citizens and their children.
Family Second Preference (F2)- Minor children, unmarried sons and daughters over age 20 and spouses of lawful permanent residents.
Family Third Preference (F3): Married sons and daughters of US citizens and their children and spouses.
Family Fourth Preference (F4): Sisters and brothers of U.S. Citizens and their children and spouses, if U.S. citizens are at least 21 years old.
Adoption:
-Adoption must occur before the child reaches 16 years of age.
-Parent must have two years of physical and legal custody of the child before petitioning to USCIS.
Note: In the case of adopting siblings adoption up to age 18 is allowed. When one child is under 16 at the time of adoption, his/her sibling can be up to 18 years old at the time of adoption and has to still qualify under child status.
Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens include:
- Spouse of a U.S. Citizen IR-1
-Unmarried child under 21 of a U.S. citizen IR-2
-Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. citizen IR-3
-Orphan to be adopted in the United States by a U.S. citizen IR-4
-Parent of a U.S. Citizen who is at least 21 years old IR-5
Family Preference Family-Based Immigrants
Involve specific, more distant, family relationships with a United States Citizen. It may also involve specific relationships with a Lawful Permanent Resident.
Family First Preference (F1)- Unmarried sons abd daughters of U.S. citizens and their children.
Family Second Preference (F2)- Minor children, unmarried sons and daughters over age 20 and spouses of lawful permanent residents.
Family Third Preference (F3): Married sons and daughters of US citizens and their children and spouses.
Family Fourth Preference (F4): Sisters and brothers of U.S. Citizens and their children and spouses, if U.S. citizens are at least 21 years old.
Adoption:
-Adoption must occur before the child reaches 16 years of age.
-Parent must have two years of physical and legal custody of the child before petitioning to USCIS.
Note: In the case of adopting siblings adoption up to age 18 is allowed. When one child is under 16 at the time of adoption, his/her sibling can be up to 18 years old at the time of adoption and has to still qualify under child status.
