Having a family member who is a U.S. citizen, or in some cases, a lawful permanent resident, can provide you with a path to U.S. citizenship too. There are generally two main types of family-based visas. There are visas based on immediate family members, like a spouse or sometimes a parent or child, who is already a citizen. There are also what are called family preference categories that could allow you to obtain a visa based on the citizenship of even more relatives.
If you are eligible for a family preference visa, you will need to start by establishing the familial relationship with their help using Form I-130, a Petition for an Alien Relative. It is important to have an attorney local to the area your qualifying relative lives in helping you, as U.S. immigration law can be incredibly complex.
Family Preference Categories That Could Help You Immigrate
You will notice that most of these categories would be socially considered “immediate family members.” It is important to confirm whether the citizen family member who can sponsor you falls under the immediate family categories or family preference category, as the forms you need depend on this distinction. For immigration purposes, you may be eligible to obtain a family preference visa if you are related to a U.S. citizen as their:
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