The United States allows United States citizens who are at least 21 to sponsor a relative who is seeking an immigrant visa to move to the United States.
Citizens may sponsor the petition of their spouses, their sons or daughters, their parents or their siblings. The good news is that in most cases, for spouses, children, or parents, there is no annual cap on the number of visas the United States will grant. Citizens may also sponsor other relations, but they will be subject to an annual cap on the number of visas.
Those who are lawful permanent residents of the United States, but not citizens, may sponsor a petition for their spouses to immigrate to the United States. They may also file a petition for their children if those children are not yet married.
There is a cap on the number of these visas that the United States will grant in a 12-month period.
Family immigration can be a complicated matter
Even if a person has a suitable sponsor in the United States, getting an immigrant visa based on family relationships can still be a complicated matter.
For example, in the case of a married or engaged couple, the applicant may need to be able to document that the marriage is genuine and not just a way to get into the United States.
All applicants may have to deal with issues in their background, such as a criminal conviction, that could impact their ability to move to the United States.
Resolving issues with family-based immigration often involves high stakes. Knowing one’s options and how to exercise them can be the difference between keeping a family intact and having to choose between living in the United States or being close to loved ones.
