Law Office of MJ Lee

Family-Based Immigration

Green Card and Citizenship Application

 

Who Can Get a Green Card through U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents?

Family Immigration Law in Boston, MA

 
 
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u.s. citizens

U.S. Citizens can sponsor a green card for the following family members. Immediate Relatives of the U.S. Citizens (spouses, children, parents) do not need to wait for the visa bulletin. There is no numerical limit for them.

  • Spouse (Immediate Relative)

  • Child (Immediate Relative)

  • Parents (Immediate Relative)

  • Unmarried Sons/Daughters (over age of 21) (F1 Family First Preference Category - should wait for the visa bulletin.)

  • Married Sons/Daughters (over age of 21) (F3 Family Third Preference Category - should wait for the visa bulletin.)

  • Sisters and Brothers (F4 Family Fourth Preference Category - should wait for the visa bulletin.)

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green card holders

Green Card Holders (Lawful Permanent Residents) can sponsor a green card for the following family members, but they should wait for the visa bulletin. Based on the chronological order, the priority date will be given and the applicants should wait until the priority date is reached.

If a green card holder becomes a U.S. Citizen, the National Visa Center (NVC) will “upgrade” the petition for your spouse and minor child. Please contact the NVC, if applicable.

  • Spouse (F2A Family Second Preference Category - should wait for the visa bulletin.)

  • Child (F2A Family Second Preference Category - should wait for the visa bulletin.)

  • Unmarried Sons/Daughters (age of 21 or older) (F2B Family Second Preference Category - should wait for the visa bulletin.

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Apply U.S. citizenship

If you received a green card through your marriage, you are generally eligible to apply U.S. citizenship just after 3 years. In other cases, you can apply U.S. citizenship after 5 years.

For the 18 or 30 months, you should physically lived in the U.S. and for those 3 or 5 years, you should continuously lived in the U.S. Right before filing your application, you should live in the state for at least 30 days to claim your residency.

In order to get approved your U.S. Citizenship application, you should show the USCIS your “good moral character” and pass the tests.

You may file via mail, or online Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. ***For the children of the U.S. citizen parent, they may file N-600 not N-400 based on Child Citizenship Act.