Thread: Arizona has become 'ground zero' of immigration fight

Who Can I Sponsor for a Green Card?

vidagolaw on Dec 3rd 2007

NOTE: After you read this post, see the February 2009 update with current wait times from the Visa Bulletin.

The answer depends on whether you are a permanent resident (green card holder) or a U.S. Citizen. U.S. Citizens can sponsor additional family members that green card holders cannot sponsor. Additionally, U.S. Citizens can petition for a fiance/fiancee to come to the U.S. to be married, while a green card holder is not given the same privilege. The person filing the petition is called the Petitioner. The person you are filing for is called the Beneficiary.

Your Status - Who You Can Petition - Beneficiary’s Category
Citizen - Husband/Wife - Immediate Relative
Citizen (& you are at least 21) - Parent - Immediate Relative
Citizen - Unmarried Child Under 21 - Immediate Relative
Citizen - Unmarried Son/Daughter 21 & over - Preference Relative
Citizen - Married Son/Daughter of any age - Preference Relative
Citizen (& you are at least 21) - Brother/Sister - Preference Relative
Green Card Holder - Husband/Wife - Preference Relative
Green Card Holder - Unmarried Son/Daughter of any age - Preference Relative

What is the difference between an Immediate Relative and Preference Relative?

An immediate relative has an immigrant visa (green card) immediately available to them. An immediate relative does not have to wait for an immigrant visa number to be available. Once a visa petition is filed for an immediate relative and the petition is approved by USCIS, the visa will be immediately available. The wait involved for an immediate relative is due to the green card processing time. In contrast, a preference relative does not have the benefit of an immediately available immigrant visa number. A preference relative must wait for a visa number to become available which can be several years, even more than a decade in some circumstances. The preference categories and current average waiting periods are outlined below:

Preference Relative Preference Category Average Wait Time
Unmarried Son/Daughter 21 & over of U.S. Citizen Family First Preference 6 Years (15 Years for Mexico & Philippines)

Husband/Wife and Unmarried Son/Daughter of any age of Green Card Holder Family Second Preference 5 Years for Husband/Wife and children under 21 (10 Years/16 Years for Mexico for Unmarried Son/Daughter 21 & over)

Married Son/Daughter of U.S. Citizen Family Third Preference 8 Years (16 Years for Mexico)

Brother/Sister of U.S. Citizen Family Fourth Preference 11 Years (14 Years for Mexico/22 Years for Philippines)

The wait times are determined by checking current priority dates. The U.S. Department of State posts the priority dates, monthly in a chart called the Visa Bulletin. The posted wait times can change from month to month. Countries such as Mexico, India and the Philippines have longer waiting times since the demand for immigrant visas are higher than in other countries.

Thanks, JD2. But I have a feeling that there will be more migration if the Haitians have an illegal under TPS protection here. After all, the TPS holders here are not suffering but their families left behind certainly are. We cannot abandon them, according to this administration, I fear and will be losing sleep over that.
While I am proud of our efforts of relief, we cannot handle millions of more people. We will rebuild their country, but what upsets me is that they will be here to watch us do it there.

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Originally Posted by LadyStClaire

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT OF YEARS AGO WOULD NOT TOLERATE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE TOLERATED BY THE PREVIOUS AND PRESENT ADMINSTRATIONS OF OUR TIME.

In 1986 The Reagan Amnesty gave citizenship to more than 3 million illegal aliens. When they got their citizenship each of them got to sponsor their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and children to come here too. When that new bunch got their citizenship they too got to sponsor their relatives to come here, as will be done if this new amnesty ever passes. It's called Chain Migration, and it never ends.

AND YET THEY WONDER WHY THE ECONOMY IS IN THE TOILET. THEY KNOW WHY AND THEY CAN SAY ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS IN NO WAY THE CAUSE. IT MAY NOT BE THE WHOLE 100% REASON WHY WE ARE IN THIS MESS. BUT IT CERTAINALLY PLAYED A PART IN IT. I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY SAY, ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION HAS REALLY HURT THIS COUNTRY IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. AND THE ECONOMY IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON AND THE WASHINGTON IDIOTS KNOW IT. THIS COUNTRY CAN ONLY HOLD SO MUCH, SO WHY BRING IN MORE PEOPLE THAT IT CAN ACCOMADATE. CHAIN MIGRATION IS SOMETHING WE DON'T WANT OR NEED