Green Cards for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens

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Securing a Green Card as an Immediate Relative of a U.S. Citizen opens up a direct path to permanent residency in the United States for specific close family members. Immediate Relatives include spouses, unmarried children under 21 years old, and parents of U.S. citizens aged at least 21.

IR1/CR1 Visa
Facilitating the family reunification process, our services extend to spouses of U.S. citizens through the IR1/CR1 visa—a marriage-based green card application.
IR4 Visa
Children adopted within the U.S. follow a distinct process, identified as the IR4 visa in their green card application.
IR2 Visa
Qualifying children under the Immediate Relative category must be unmarried and under 21 years of age. Our assistance covers the Family-Based Green Card application for such children, commonly known as the IR2 visa.
IR5 Visa
U.S. citizens aged 21 and above have the privilege of sponsoring their parents through the IR5 visa route, streamlining the green card application process for parents.
IR3 Visa
For internationally adopted children, the green card application process falls under the umbrella of the IR3 visa.

Key Requirements for Green Card for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens

U.S. Citizen Relative: The petitioner must be a U.S. citizen, aged at least 21, establishing an immediate relative relationship through marriage, parenthood, or as a child.
Immediate Relative Relationship: The foreign national must qualify as an immediate family member through legal means, such as marriage or birth, adhering to the defined relationships mentioned above.
Eligibility Verification: The U.S. citizen petitioner must provide compelling evidence, such as marriage or birth certificates, to substantiate the legitimacy of the family relationship, a crucial step in proving familial connection.
Sponsorship and Affidavit of Support: The U.S. citizen petitioner commits to sponsoring the immediate relative and files an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) to affirm financial capability, ensuring the relative won't become a public charge in the U.S.
Consular Processing or Adjustment of Status: The process for obtaining a Green Card varies based on the relative's location. Consular processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate is typically for those outside the U.S., while those already in the U.S. may adjust their status.

Key Features of Green Card for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens

Immediate Availability: Unlike other family-based visa categories, the Green Card for Immediate Relatives is not subject to numerical limits or lengthy waiting periods. Once approved, immediate relatives can proceed without significant delays.
Path to Permanent Residency: This Green Card offers a direct route to permanent residency, allowing the immediate relative to live and work in the U.S. indefinitely, enjoying the benefits and rights of a permanent resident.
Spouse and Children's Derivative Status: The spouse and unmarried children under 21 of the immediate relatives can benefit from derivative status, being included in the same petition and applying for Green Cards simultaneously.
Employment Authorization: Upon Green Card application approval, immediate relatives may be eligible for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), enabling legal employment while awaiting Green Card issuance.
Eligibility for Citizenship: After holding a Green Card for a specified period and meeting other requirements, the immediate relative may be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization. Applicants holding a U.S. green card need to wait 5 years after obtaining their green card to make an application for citizenship. Also, applicants are required to have lived in the U.S. for a period of 2.5 years or 30 months in the 5 years required. Residents who have constituted at least 3 years of marriage and have lived with their U.S. citizen spouse within that period of time are eligible to apply for citizenship only after 3 years of obtaining their U.S. green card. This category of applicants should have lived in the United States for a minimum period of 18 months or 1.5 years. Their spouse must also have been a U.S. citizen for a period of 3 years.

Given the complexity of immigration processes, it's crucial to consult with an immigration attorney to navigate requirements and ensure a robust Green card application as an Immediate Relative.