Family-Based Green Card Sponsorship
U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can sponsor qualified family members for a Green Card. The process for sponsoring a family member for permanent residency consists of three main stages: filing the Petition for Alien Relative with USCIS, processing documents via the National Visa Center (NVC), and lastly submitting the Immigrant Visa application at the appropriate U.S. consular post. Once your relative obtains their permanent resident status, they are authorized to live and work anywhere in the United States.
Which family members can I sponsor for a green card?
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Whether you are a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident dictates which family members you can sponsor for a Green Card. U.S. citizens have more options for family-based Green Card sponsorship compared to permanent residents.
U.S. citizens can sponsor the following family members:
U.S. permanent residents (Green Card holders) can sponsor the following family members:
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Good to Know
Only the spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens are classified as immediate relatives. Visas for these immediate relatives are available right away. U.S. citizens sponsoring siblings or adult/married children, as well as permanent residents sponsoring their spouse or unmarried children, must wait for a visa to become available. The wait time varies based on factors such as the relative's relationship and the current visa availability, as outlined in the Visa Bulletin.
It's crucial to discuss any criminal history or immigration violations with your immigration attorney. You may need a permanent waiver of inadmissibility if you're found ineligible to enter the U.S.
It's crucial to discuss any criminal history or immigration violations with your immigration attorney. You may need a permanent waiver of inadmissibility if you're found ineligible to enter the U.S.
The Barella Global Advantage
With offices in London and Brussels, and a presence in Paris, Barella Global has a wealth of experience in representing U.S. citizens residing overseas in sponsoring their foreign national family members, including spouses. In addition to working within European time zones, our team can also help with direct filing requests for eligible petitioners at their local U.S. consular post. If approved, this method substantially cuts down on processing times and minimizes, or even eliminates, any potential separation from family members.
For more information on sponsoring qualified relatives for a Green Card, contact our office to set up a consultation with one of our U.S. immigration attorneys. Our firm focuses on assisting U.S. citizens residing in the UK, Belgium, France, and across Europe with the sponsorship of their foreign national family members.
For more information on sponsoring qualified relatives for a Green Card, contact our office to set up a consultation with one of our U.S. immigration attorneys. Our firm focuses on assisting U.S. citizens residing in the UK, Belgium, France, and across Europe with the sponsorship of their foreign national family members.
