United States · Family Visas

Immediate relatives of US citizens

Immigration category for spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of US citizens, with unlimited visa availability and no statutory waiting backlog.

Who it suits

Who this pathway suits

Close family members of adult US citizens.

Eligibility

Eligibility at a glance

  • Spouse of a US citizen (IR-1 / CR-1)
  • Unmarried child under 21 of a US citizen (IR-2)
  • Parent of a US citizen who is at least 21 years old (IR-5)
  • Sponsor meets 125% HHS poverty line income requirement
Process

How the process works

  1. US citizen files Form I-130
  2. Immediate visa number availability
  3. Concurrent I-485 filing (if in US) or prompt NVC consular processing
Documents

Documents you will typically need

  • Proof of US citizenship, birth certificates showing parental relationship, marriage certificate, bona fide marital evidence
Good to know

What to keep in mind

Spouses married less than 2 years at the time of admission receive a 2-year conditional Green Card (CR-1).

Official source: USCIS — Green Card for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizen. Government authorities make all final decisions; no outcome is guaranteed.

Is Immediate relatives of US citizens the right route for you?

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