Family-Based Immigration: What It Is and How It Works
Family-based immigration is one of the main ways people get lawful permanent residence—aka a green card—in the United States. At its core, it’s about reunifying families. If you’re a U.S. citizen or a green card holder, you might be able to sponsor certain family members to live here legally and eventually become permanent residents themselves.
Now, not all family relationships are treated the same. There are two main categories: immediate relatives and family preference. Immediate relatives—like your spouse, unmarried kids under 21, or parents (if you’re a U.S. citizen)—get first dibs. There’s no cap on the number of visas available for them, so the process can move more quickly. Family preference categories, on the other hand, include siblings of U.S. citizens and the spouses or children of green card holders. These are subject to annual limits and long wait times, especially if the person being sponsored is from a high-demand country like Mexico, India, or the Philippines.
Sponsoring someone means more than just filling out a few forms. It means filing an I-130 petition to show there’s a real qualifying relationship, proving you can financially support the person, and walking them through either consular processing abroad or adjustment of status if they’re already in the U.S. The process varies a lot depending on whether they’re inside or outside the country, how they entered, and their immigration history.
This stuff can get complicated quickly—especially if there’s a marriage involved, a past visa overstay, or someone’s unsure what steps to take next. But if you’re trying to keep your family together, or help someone build a stable life here, that’s exactly what this system is built for. And that’s where I come in.
If you’re wondering whether your relationship qualifies, what the wait might look like, or how to avoid common pitfalls, I’ll help you sort through it—clearly, candidly, and without the runaround. Let’s schedule a consultation. Contact me at 402-259-0059 or zach@zandersonlaw.com.