Family Green Cards, Step by Step
F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4, and immediate relatives — who can petition, how the wait works, and the road from petition to visa.
Two tracks: capped and uncapped
Family immigration has two tracks. Immediate relatives of US citizens — spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of adult citizens — have no annual cap and no Visa Bulletin wait.
Everyone else falls into preference categories (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4) with annual caps and country limits, which is why siblings of citizens can wait well over a decade.
The petition: Form I-130
Everything starts with the US citizen or permanent resident filing Form I-130 for the relative. Approval of the I-130 establishes the relationship and sets the priority date — but it is not a visa and does not by itself allow travel or work.
For preference categories, the priority date is the I-130 filing date. Your place in line is fixed from that day.
After the petition: two roads
When the priority date becomes current, the case goes one of two ways. Applicants inside the US usually adjust status with Form I-485. Applicants abroad go through consular processing: the National Visa Center collects documents and fees, then schedules an interview at a US consulate.
Both roads require an affidavit of support (Form I-864) from the petitioner, proving the immigrant will not become a public charge.
Where the waits are longest
F4 (siblings of citizens) has the longest waits, followed by F3 (married children of citizens) and F1. F2A (spouses and minor children of permanent residents) is usually the fastest preference category.
Country limits matter: applicants born in Mexico and the Philippines face separate, longer lines in most family categories.
Common mistakes
The most expensive mistake is assuming an approved I-130 means lawful stay: it does not. Overstaying while waiting can trigger bars on reentry, and leaving the US at the wrong time can trigger the 3-year or 10-year bars.
Another is missing the NVC's document deadlines after the priority date becomes current — a case can be terminated for inaction.
Where to go next
General information only — not legal advice. Always verify at uscis.gov and travel.state.gov before acting.