U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) can petition to bring certain family members to the United States as permanent residents. The relationship to the petitioner determines which preference category applies:
U.S. Citizens can petition for:
Lawful Permanent Residents can petition for:
The family-based green card process begins with the U.S. citizen or permanent resident filing Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with USCIS. This establishes the qualifying family relationship.
For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, minor children, parents), there is no visa backlog — a visa is immediately available once the I-130 is approved. For preference categories, there can be significant wait times ranging from a few years to over a decade depending on the category and the beneficiary's country of birth.
Once a visa is available, the family member can apply for adjustment of status (if in the U.S.) or go through consular processing at a U.S. embassy abroad. Stephen Bandar Law Office handles both pathways for families in Massachusetts and across the world.
For U.S. citizens sponsoring a spouse, the I-130 is an immediate relative petition with no visa backlog. Total processing time (I-130 + consular processing or adjustment of status) typically ranges from 12 to 24 months depending on USCIS and embassy workload. For permanent residents (green card holders) sponsoring a spouse, the F2A category currently has a wait time that varies — check the monthly Visa Bulletin. Stephen Bandar Law Office will give you a realistic timeline for your specific situation.
Yes. U.S. citizens who are at least 21 years old can petition for both parents as immediate relatives, meaning there is no visa backlog once the I-130 is approved. Both parents must be petitioned separately (one I-130 for each parent). The process takes approximately 12 to 24 months from filing to green card approval. Stephen Bandar Law Office handles parent petitions regularly for families in Massachusetts.
Yes, but there is a wait time. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders fall under the F2A preference category, which has a visa backlog. The current wait time varies — check the monthly Visa Bulletin at travel.state.gov. Becoming a U.S. citizen before the process concludes can eliminate the wait. Our attorneys will advise you on the best strategy for your family's situation.
Required documents for an I-130 petition typically include the petitioner's proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence, proof of the qualifying family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.), civil documents for both petitioner and beneficiary, passport photos, and the filing fee. Stephen Bandar Law Office prepares complete, well-documented I-130 petitions that minimize the risk of requests for additional evidence (RFEs) from USCIS.
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