The United States government has clarified which family members may apply for a Green Card through its family preference immigrant programme.
The programme applies to selected relatives of US citizens and lawful permanent residents, with each relationship placed under a specific preference category.
The rules do not cover immediate relatives of US citizens, including spouses, minor children and parents, who follow a separate application process.
Family members eligible under the programme
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has listed the relatives who may qualify under the family preference categories:
- First preference (F1): Unmarried sons and daughters aged 21 or older of US citizens.
- Second preference (F2A): Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 of lawful permanent residents.
- Third preference (F3): Married sons and daughters of US citizens.
- Fourth preference (F4): Brothers and sisters of US citizens, where the sponsoring US citizen is at least 21 years old.
Applicants living in the US
People already in the United States may seek lawful permanent resident status through a process known as “adjustment of status”.
The procedure allows eligible applicants to change their immigration status while remaining in the country instead of leaving to complete the process abroad.
However, the requirements differ between the preference categories. Applicants must therefore establish which category matches their family relationship before starting the application.
