Reunite Your Family in the United States

Who you can sponsor depends on whether you're a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident (green card holder):

If you're a U.S. citizen, you can sponsor:

• Immediate Relatives (no waiting list):

• Your spouse (husband or wife)

• Your unmarried children under age 21

• Your parents (if you're 21 or older)

• Family Preference Categories (with waiting periods):

• F1: Your unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) - currently 7-8 year wait

• F3: Your married children (any age) - currently 10-15 year wait

• F4: Your brothers and sisters (if you're 21 or older) - currently 15-20+ year wait

If you're a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), you can sponsor:

• F2A: Your spouse and unmarried children under age 21 -approximately a 2-3 year wait

• F2B: Your unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) - approximately a7-10 year wait

You CANNOT sponsor: Married children (if you're a green card holder), siblings (if you're a green card holder), grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins, or in-laws (unless they qualify through their own relationship with a U.S. citizen or green card holder).

Important: Once you naturalize and become a U.S. citizen, your sponsorship options expand significantly. For instance, as a green card holder you cannot sponsor your married children or siblings, but as a U.S. citizen you can. This is one major reason why many green card holders choose to pursue citizenship.

Processing times vary dramatically based on your relationship category and your relative's country of origin. Since these times vary by USCIS processing times, and the country, during your consultation we will give you a good idea of how much time the process will take.

Why such long waits? It depends on processing times by USCIS. U.S. immigration law caps the number of family preference visas issued each year (226,000 total across all categories worldwide). It also limits how many visas can go to any single country (7% of the total). Since demand far exceeds supply—especially for countries like Mexico, Philippines, India, and China—massive backlogs have formed.

What can speed things up? If you're a green card holder sponsoring family, naturalizing to become a U.S. citizen may reduce wait times. Your spouse and children move from F2A (2-3 year wait) to immediate relative (no wait). Your unmarried adult children move from F2B (7-10 years) to F1 (7-8 years, a small improvement).

Important: These are estimates based on current visa bulletins. Processing times change constantly. L.I.H. Law monitors the visa bulletin monthly and keeps you updated on your relative's priority date status.

USCIS Government Fees (paid to U.S. government, not your attorney as of January, 2026):

• Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative): $675

• Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status, if applicable): $1,440 (includes $85 biometrics fee) for applicants 14 and older, or $950 for children under 14

• Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support): $120 (only if processing through NVC/consular processing)

• Immigrant Visa Application Fee (if processing abroad): $325

• Medical Examination: $200-$1,000 (varies by doctor and location)

Total government/medical costs:

• Adjustment of Status in U.S.: $2,115+ per person ($675 I-130 + $1,440 I-485)

• Consular Processing Abroad: $1,320+ per person ($675 I-130 + $120 I-864 + $325 visa + $200-500 medical)

Attorney Fees: Our legal fees for family immigration representation vary based on case complexity. During your initial consultation, we provide a clear prices.. We offer payment plans to make our services more accessible.

Additional potential costs:

• Document translations

• Certified copies of birth/marriage certificates from abroad

• Travel costs for interviews

• Waivers of inadmissibility if needed ($930-$1,050 government fee per waiver, plus legal fees)

Financial support requirement: In addition to filing fees, you must prove you can financially support your relative at 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for your household size. For 2025, this means:

• 2-person household: $26,712/year minimum

• 3-person household: $33,675/year minimum

• 4-person household: $40,638/year minimum

• 5-person household: $47,600/year minimum

If you don't meet the income requirement, you may need a joint sponsor (a U.S. citizen or green card holder who agrees to co-sponsor your relative).

Yes, absolutely. There is no minimum length of marriage required to sponsor your spouse for a green card. You can file an I-130 petition the day after you get married if you want.

However, USCIS will scrutinize recent marriages more closely to ensure your marriage is genuine and not entered into solely for immigration benefits (known as "marriage fraud"). This is especially true if:

• You married very quickly after meeting (less than a few months)

• Your relationship began online with minimal in-person time together before marriage

• There's a significant age difference between you and your spouse

• One spouse has had previous immigration violations or visa denials

• You met through an international dating website or marriage broker

• Your spouse's immigration status was about to expire or they were facing removal

To prove your marriage is genuine, you'll need strong evidence:

• Photos together throughout your relationship, including your wedding, honeymoon, holidays, family gatherings, everyday life

• Proof you live together—joint lease or mortgage, joint utility bills, mail addressed to both of you at the same address

• Financial commingling—joint bank accounts, one spouse listed as beneficiary on the other's life insurance or retirement accounts

• Communication history—emails, texts, WhatsApp messages, call logs showing regular contact (especially important if you had a long-distance relationship before marriage)

• Affidavits from people who know you as a couple—friends, family, coworkers, religious leaders who can attest to your genuine relationship

• Travel records showing trips you took together or to visit each other

The interview will be thorough. USCIS officers will ask detailed questions about how you met, your courtship, your wedding, your daily life together, and your future plans. They may ask questions separately to see if your answers match. Questions can include: When and where did you meet? Who proposed and how? What did you do on your first date? What time does your spouse wake up for work? What side of the bed does your spouse sleep on? These questions test whether you actually know each other intimately as married couples do.

Conditional green cards for recent marriages: If your spouse gets their green card within 2 years of your wedding date, they'll receive a conditional 2-year green card (not a permanent 10-year card). Before the 2-year anniversary, you must file Form I-751 jointly to remove the conditions and get the permanent green card. This requires proving your marriage is still ongoing and genuine.

The bottom line: You can absolutely sponsor your spouse right after marriage, but you need to be prepared to prove your relationship is real with substantial documentation and a solid interview. L.I.H. Law specializes in marriage-based petitions and prepares couples thoroughly for the scrutiny they'll face.

This is one of the most complex areas of family immigration law, and the answer depends on several factors:

For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, children under 21, parents):

If they're currently in the U.S.:

• Entered WITH inspection (came through a port of entry with inspection by immigration officer, even if they later overstayed): They most likely CAN adjust status in the U.S. despite the overstay. Immediate relatives are forgiven for most visa overstays.

• Entered WITHOUT inspection (crossed the border illegally without being inspected): They generally CANNOT adjust status in the U.S., even as immediate relatives. Exception: If they qualify for INA §245(i) because someone filed an immigrant or labor certification petition for them on or before April 30, 2001, they can pay a $1,000 penalty and adjust status despite unlawful entry.

If they left the U.S. after unlawful presence:

• Unlawful presence of 180 days to 364 days: Triggers a 3-year bar from re-entering the U.S.

• Unlawful presence of 1 year (365 days) or more: Triggers a 10-year bar from re-entering the U.S.

• BUT immediate relatives can apply for an I-601A waiver (Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver) BEFORE leaving the U.S. for their consular interview. If approved, the waiver forgives the 3 or 10-year bar, allowing them to obtain their immigrant visa abroad and return to the U.S. within weeks rather than waiting 3-10 years.

For family preference categories (adult children, siblings, etc.):

The rules are much stricter:

• They generally CANNOT adjust status in the U.S. if they entered without inspection OR overstayed their visa by more than 180 days

• They must leave the U.S. for consular processing, which triggers the 3 or 10-year unlawful presence bars

• They can apply for I-601 waivers, but these require proving "extreme hardship" to a qualifying U.S. citizen or LPR relative, which is a high standard

Previous deportations or removals:

If your family member was previously deported or removed from the U.S., they likely have a permanent bar or a 10/20-year bar, depending on circumstances. Overcoming these bars requires I-212 waivers (permission to reapply for admission) and often I-601 waivers as well. These are complex cases requiring experienced legal counsel.

Important warning: Applying for a green card when you have significant unlawful presence can put you at risk of being placed in removal proceedings if USCIS discovers the unlawful status. Do NOT file without consulting an experienced attorney first.

At L.I.H. Law, we carefully analyze your family member's complete immigration history before advising whether to proceed with a petition, what waivers may be needed, and what the risks are. Sometimes the smart choice is to wait, address other issues first, or pursue alternative immigration pathways. We give you honest assessments so you can make informed decisions about your family's future.

To sponsor a family member for a green card, you must prove you can financially support them at 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for your household size. This requirement ensures your relative won't become a "public charge" relying on government benefits.

Household size calculation:

Your household includes:

• You (the sponsor)

• Your spouse (if living with you)

• Your dependent children (under 21 and unmarried)

• The relative you're sponsoring

• Any other dependents listed on your most recent tax return

• Anyone you've previously sponsored who hasn't naturalized or worked 40 qualifying quarters

Required income for 2025 (125% of poverty guidelines):

• 2-person household: $26,712/year

• 3-person household: $33,675/year

• 4-person household: $40,638/year

• 5-person household: $47,600/year

• 6-person household: $54,563/year

• 7-person household: $61,525/year

• 8-person household: $68,488/year

(Add $6,963 for each additional person)

What income counts:

• Wages, salaries, tips (from W-2s and pay stubs)

• Self-employment income (from tax returns and profit/loss statements)

• Social Security, SSI, or other retirement income

• Alimony, child support (if documented)

• Unemployment benefits, workers' compensation

• Your spouse's income (if you include them as a household member)

• Income from assets (savings, stocks, real estate) under certain calculations

If you don't meet the income requirement, you have options:

1. Joint Sponsor: Another person (must be U.S. citizen or green card holder, 18+, and domiciled in the U.S.) can file a separate Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) for your relative. The joint sponsor must meet the 125% requirement based on their own household size. Joint sponsors are independently liable—they're making a separate commitment to support your relative.

2. Household Member: If someone living in your household (like an adult child or parent) has income, they can complete Form I-864A to combine their income with yours. They must live with you and agree to make their income available to support your sponsored relative.

3. Use Assets: You can count assets (savings, property, stocks) if they equal at least 5 times the difference between your income and the required amount. For example, if you're short $10,000 in annual income, you'd need $50,000 in assets to make up the difference. The math is complex, and not all assets qualify.

4. Wait until your income increases: If you just started a new job or expect your income to rise, you might want to wait until your next tax return shows sufficient income.

Important: You must provide IRS tax transcripts for the most recent year, plus additional documentation like pay stubs, W-2s, and employment verification letters. Self-employed individuals need additional documentation like business tax returns and profit/loss statements.

L.I.H. Law helps you determine whether you meet the financial requirements, explores all available options if you don't, prepares Form I-864 correctly with proper supporting documentation, and coordinates with joint sponsors when needed.