Family Visa

The process of obtaining a Family Visa in the United States is part of the American family migration program aimed at reuniting both immediate and extended family members with their eligible relatives in the US. This migration scheme enables family members to reside and work permanently in the USA alongside their relatives, who may be lawful permanent residents or citizens.

To be eligible for family immigration, you must satisfy the following conditions:

• The sponsor must be a lawful permanent resident or citizen of the USA.
• The sponsor must be at least 21 years old to petition for siblings or parents. However, for signing an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864 or I-864-EZ), a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) must be at least 18 years old and have a residence (domicile) in the U.S.
• The sponsor must possess adequate funds and assets to support the migrating family members and must maintain their principal residence (domicile) in the U.S.
• The sponsor must be willing to sign an affidavit of support for the migrating family.
• The sponsor must obtain approval for the immigrant visa petition, I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), from USCIS.

Family-Based Immigration Visa Categories in the United States

Family-based immigration visas in the United States are divided into two groups according to U.S. immigration law:

A) Immediate Relative Immigrant Visas: These visas are for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The number of immigrants in these categories is not limited each fiscal year. Immediate relative visa types include:

• IR-1: Spouse of a U.S. Citizen
• IR-2: Unmarried Child Under 21 Years of Age of a U.S. Citizen
• IR-3: Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. Citizen
• IR-4: Orphan to be adopted in the U.S. by a U.S. citizen
• IR-5: Parent of a U.S. Citizen who is at least 21 years old.

B) Family Preference Immigrant Visas: This category encompasses specific, more distant family ties of U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The number of immigrants in these groups isn’t capped annually. Immediate relative visa types consist of:

Family First Preference :

Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, along with their minor children, if     any. (23,400 visas).

Family Second Preference :

Spouses, minor children, and unmarried sons and daughters (21 and over) of          Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs). At least seventy-seven percent of visas in this    category are allotted to spouses and children, with the remainder going to              unmarried sons and daughters. (114,200 visas).

Family Third Preference :

Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, along with their spouses and minor      children. (23,400 visas).

Family Fourth Preference :

Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, along with their spouses and minor children,      provided the U.S. citizens are at least 21 years old. (65,000 visas).

Note: Grandparents, aunts, uncles, in-laws, and cousins are ineligible to sponsor relatives for immigration.

Fee Requirements:

The following fees are necessary:

• Filing an immigrant Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130 (charged by USCIS).
• Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fees for Immediate relative and family preference applications (processed after approval of I-130, I-600, or I-800 petitions).
• Medical examination and required vaccinations (costs vary).
• Additional expenses may include translation fees, photocopying charges, costs for obtaining necessary documents for the immigrant visa application (such as passport, police certificates, birth certificates, etc.), and travel expenses to the U.S. embassy or consulate for the visa interview.

Costs fluctuate depending on the country and individual circumstances