Can U.S. citizens bring their family members from another country into the United States?
United States citizens and lawful permanent residents can bring certain family members to live here in America.  U.S. citizens can sponsor spouses, parents, children, brothers and sisters.  Lawful permanent residents can sponsor only spouses and unmarried children.

Family-sponsored immigrants fall into one of two categories:  Immediate relatives of United States citizens or the family preference system.  Immediate relatives of United States citizens include spouses, parents and unmarried minor children.  These applicants are processed on a first come first serve basis and there is no limit to the number of visas that can be issued to this group.  The family preference system includes all other types of family-sponsored immigrants and only 226,000 immigrants in this class are given visas each year.

Immediate relatives of United States citizens have their visas processed quicker than immigrants filing under the family preference system.  Those filing under the family preference system must oftentimes wait up to twelve years before their visa is issued.  Preference is given to applicants based on their relationship to a United States citizen:

• First preference is given to unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens.
• Second preference A is given to minor children and spouses of lawful permanent residents.
• Second preference B is given to unmarried adult children of lawful permanent residents.
• Third preference is given to married children of United States citizens.
• Fourth preference is given to siblings of United States citizens.

Applicants in the different preference groups can periodically check on their wait time. The preference groups are independent of each other and wait time depends on the number of applicants in their groups. For instance, it may be possible for someone in the third preference group to obtain a visa faster than someone in the second preference A group.