Getting a Family-Based Green Card

Green Card Through a U.S. Family Member: Who Qualifies?

If you're related by blood, marriage, or adoption to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you yourself may qualify for a U.S. green card.

When Children Can Immigrate to the U.S. With Their Parents as "Derivatives"

Learn when children can piggyback on a parent's right to immigrate to the U.S., and when they'll instead need a separate family relationship and petition filed on their behalf.

How Becoming a U.S. Citizen Can Help Your Foreign-Born Children Immigrate

How permanent residents can speed up the process of bringing their foreign-born children to the U.S. by obtaining citizenship.

How Soon Can U.S.-Born Child of Undocumented Immigrant Petition for Parent?

The long wait until a U.S. citizen child turns 21 and becomes eligible to sponsor a parent.

Who Counts as a Child When Getting an Immigrant Visa or Green Card?

Not only natural-born children, but also adopted and stepchildren can immigrate through their parents if certain conditions are met.

Can U.S. Citizen Living Abroad Sponsor Family to Enter U.S. With Green Cards?

Only someone living in the U.S. can act as financial sponsor, which complicates the matter of petitioning for a family member if the citizen still lives abroad.

Key Steps in Applying for Family or Marriage-Based Green Card

A step-by-step look at what's involved in obtaining lawful permanent residence for the foreign-born relative of a U.S. citizen or resident.

How Long Is the Wait for Your Priority Date to Become Current?

How would-be immigrants in the preference categories" can track their progress toward visa availability using the Visa Bulletin."

Asking USCIS for Humanitarian Reinstatement of I-130 Petition

Requesting that your green card application be considered even after the death of the U.S. petitioner (sponsor).

How to Prove a Parent-Child Relationship for Citizenship or Immigration Purposes

When official documents aren't sufficient to show that you're a child's father or mother, you may need to provide DNA or other evidence.

Immigrating Through U.S. Citizen Parent: Will Divorcing Get You a Green Card Faster?

Facing long waits to immigrate as the married child of a U.S. citizen, some applicants wonder whether a divorce would speed up the process.

How to Get a Green Card

This hands-on guide provides a separate chapter on each type of qualifying family relationship, and how to apply for a green card based on it.