US Immigration:Family Sponsorship Guide *

US Immigration: Family-Based –  Did you know that US citizens can sponsor their alien parents, children and siblings? Under US Immigration law if you are currently a green card holder and you are eligible for US citizenship then taking this next step could really help you to sponsor your family members who want to relocate to the US.

US Immigration has ‘categorized’ or ‘prioritized’ these family members. Remember, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and close friends cannot sponsor an alien into the US. 

Employers can, but that’s another subject.  If you are the minor child (under 21) of a US citizen, including a step-child ( under 18), you can be sponsored into the US and begin your life with a green card. For step-children the step- relationship should have become established before the child reaches 18 and for adopted children before the age of 16. For parents and children, as described above, US Immigration has taken this category of alien outside the green card annual numerical limit so that these green cards can be processed relatively quickly, that is between 6-12 months.

The next category is for children who are over 21 and single who have at least one US citizen parent. These aliens fall into a lower of priority called “preferences”. These preferences run  as follows: -

US Immigration Green Card Waiting Times

First:  Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens

Second: Aliens Being Sponsored by Green Card Holder not US Citizen.  
Please note – Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents

Please Note - A.  Spouses and Children: 

Please note - B.  Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older)

Third:  Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens

Fourth:  Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens

 Below is a breakdown of the current waiting time as at the time of this post.

You can click on the following link to get the most up-to-date wait times. Here. 

As you can see for all the preferences the wait time can be many years, except as outlined above, for parents and children of US Citizens. This having been said, it could still be worthwhile filing these applications to help your family members, and in the meantime we may be able to help to develop an interim immigration strategy that will get them here on one visa until their green card sponsorship comes through.

For aliens who do not have US citizen family members to help them, the road to getting a green card is very hard indeed. But you could make all the difference for your family by going from being a green card holder to becoming a US Citizen.  We would certainly welcome your call if you’d like us to take care of your family members in this way.

Family  Immigration -
Family Sponsorship Guide -

By Chris M. Ingram, LL.M., ESQ.
Attorney at Law

US Immigration Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram
Chris M. Ingram LL.M., ESQ – Admitted in New York
Practice Specializing in US Immigration Law
Suite 300, 23822 Valencia Blvd,
Valencia, California 91355
Tel: 661 254 8064

Everyday the Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram provides a comprehensive range of US Immigration expertise. We also provide a free consultation for our prospective clients. 

General Location: Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Serving all 50 States
Copyright 2010

Please note that nothing contained in this website or link therefrom shall be regarded as providing legal advice. Please contact us directly for legal advice specific to your situation. Thank You.