United StatesFamily
US family-based immigrant visas
Family-based immigrant visas: immediate relatives and preference categories
In short
US citizens can petition for spouses, unmarried children under 21 and parents (if the citizen is 21 or over) as immediate relatives with no annual limit. Other relatives fall into numerically limited preference categories (F1 to F4) with waiting times shown in the monthly Visa Bulletin. Permanent residents can petition for spouses and unmarried children.
checked 25 October 2026
Key facts
- Fee
- US$675Form I-130 on paper ($625 online); immigrant visa fee $325 per person; USCIS Immigrant Fee $235 (G-1055 10/16/26; 22 CFR 22.1)
- Funds required
- US$24,650 per yearMinimum sponsor household income for 2 people (125% of 2026 poverty guidelines); add $6,425 per extra person
- Processing time
- Immediate relatives: no queue after petition approval; preference categories: years, depending on the Visa Bulletin
- Work
- Yes, as permanent residents
- Family
- Spouses and minor children of preference beneficiaries can usually come as derivatives
- Path to permanent residence
- Green card on admission; citizenship usually after 5 years
- Where to apply
- Petition with USCIS; immigrant visa at the U.S. embassy or consulate for your place of residence or, on request, your country of nationality
Who can be sponsored
Immediate relatives of US citizens (IR categories): spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of citizens aged 21 or over; there is no annual cap. Family preference categories: F1 unmarried sons and daughters (21+) of citizens; F2A spouses and children under 21 of permanent residents; F2B unmarried sons and daughters (21+) of permanent residents; F3 married sons and daughters of citizens; F4 brothers and sisters of adult citizens. Grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles cannot be sponsored directly.
Affidavit of support (I-864)
The petitioner must sign Form I-864 and show household income of at least 125% of the HHS poverty guidelines; from 1 March 2026 that is $24,650 for a household of 2, $31,075 for 3 and $37,500 for 4 in the 48 contiguous states (higher in Alaska and Hawaii; 100% for sponsors on active military duty). A joint sponsor or assets can make up a shortfall. The I-864 is a legally enforceable contract. The I-134 form is used only for some nonimmigrant and parole cases, not for immigrant visas.
Fees
The petitioner pays $675 for Form I-130 ($625 online). Each immigrant pays $325 to the State Department for the immigrant visa and $235 to USCIS for the green card after the visa is issued. Medical exam and translation costs are separate.
Interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate
The National Visa Center schedules applicants at the post for their place of residence or, on request, their country of nationality. Bring the originals of every document uploaded, follow the post’s instructions for registering before the interview, and complete the medical exam with an approved physician. The State Department has announced additional immigrant visa processing measures for some nationalities; check the embassy and travel.state.gov notices before your interview.
- The US citizen or permanent resident relative files Form I-130 with USCIS and waits for approval (and, for preference cases, a current priority date).
- After approval, the National Visa Center (NVC) sends instructions: pay the immigrant visa fee and the affidavit of support review where charged.
- Complete the DS-260 online and upload civil documents and the I-864 to your CEAC account.
- Once documentarily qualified, NVC schedules the interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate that handles your case; follow its instructions for registering before the interview.
- Have the medical exam with an embassy-approved physician and bring all originals to the interview.
- Pay the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee online before travelling; your green card is mailed after admission.
Waiting times and the Visa Bulletin
Your place in line is the priority date, normally the date USCIS received the I-130. Each month the State Department’s Visa Bulletin lists the cut-off dates for each preference category; you can only move to the visa stage when your date is current. Waits range from months to many years, with F4 sibling cases among the longest. Children who turn 21 may be protected by the Child Status Protection Act.
Documents
Required documents
Identity
- Valid passport and two photos meeting State Department rules
Money
- Form I-864 Affidavit of Support from the petitioner with tax returns and income evidence
Family
- Birth certificate and, for spouses, marriage certificate, with translations
Other
- Police certificates and military records where requested
- Medical examination by an embassy-approved physician
Supporting documents (where they apply)
Other
- Originals of every document uploaded to CEAC, to bring to the interview
Frequently asked questions
Can my US citizen child sponsor me as a parent?
Yes, if the child is at least 21. Parents are immediate relatives, so there is no annual quota wait.
How long does a sibling (F4) green card take?
It depends on the monthly Visa Bulletin cut-off dates and is typically many years.
Does the petitioner need to live in the US?
For the affidavit of support the sponsor must be domiciled in the United States or show they will re-establish domicile there.
Official sources
- USCIS – Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- USCIS – Green Card Eligibility Categories
- USCIS – G-1055 Fee Schedule (edition 10/16/26)
- 22 CFR 22.1 – Schedule of fees for consular services
- USCIS – I-864P HHS Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support (effective 1 March 2026)
- U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Türkiye – Immigrant Visa Overview
- U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Türkiye – U.S. Visa Services
- USCIS – USCIS Immigrant Fee
- Proclamation 10998 – Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals (Federal Register, govinfo)
- Servicio oficial de citas de visa (México) – Adjudicación de visas de inmigrante en el país de residencia
- Servicio oficial de citas de visa (México) – Visas de inmigrante: registro de cita
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for the United States
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Set by CBP on the I-94 at entry, usually up to 6 months for visitors
- Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Set by CBP; an extension can be requested with Form I-539 if treatment continues
- Transit visa Maximum stay: Immediate and continuous transit only; never more than 29 days
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: Set by CBP on the I-94 at entry, usually up to 6 months for visitors
- Investor visa Maximum stay: Admission normally for up to 2 years at a time, renewable while the business qualifies
Study and training
- Student visa Maximum stay: From 15 September 2026: the programme end date, up to 4 years, plus a 30-day departure period; longer study needs an extension from USCIS
- Researcher visa Maximum stay: Length of the programme, up to 5 years
- Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Interns up to 12 months; trainees up to 18 months (12 months in agriculture and hospitality and tourism)
- Au pair visa Maximum stay: 12 months, extendable by 6, 9 or 12 months with State Department approval
Work
- Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Up to 3 years, extendable to 6 years in total
- Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Initial stay up to 3 years (1 year for a new office); total 7 years for L-1A and 5 for L-1B
- Work visa Maximum stay: Up to 3 years initially; extensions in 1-year increments
- Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: Period of the certified need, usually up to 1 year, extendable to a 3-year maximum
Family
- Spouse and partner visa Validity: K-1: 90 days to marry; CR-1: 2-year conditional green card; IR-1: 10-year green card
Residence
- Golden visa and residence by investment Validity: Conditional green card for 2 years, then Form I-829 to remove conditions
- Permanent residence Validity: 10-year card (2-year conditional card for recent marriages and EB-5)
Online travel permits
- Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) Maximum stay: Up to 90 days per visit
Faster processing
- Fast-track and priority visa services Processing time: Premium processing: 15 business days for most cases, 30 for I-765 and I-539, 45 for E13 and NIW I-140
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Processing time: No fixed timeline; affirmative cases are interviewed by a USCIS asylum office