Helping the Family:

How Newly Naturalized U.S. Citizens Can Help Family Members

As a U.S. citizen you can help many of your family members immigrate to the United States.  The following is a list of who (and how) you can help.

Spouse: As a U.S. citizen, your foreign national spouse can immediately apply to immigrate to the United States, or (if already present in the United States) can immediately apply to become a lawful permanent resident (LPR).  Additionally, once a spouse becomes a LPR, the spouse may be able to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen within three years.

Parents: As a U.S. citizen, your parents are eligible to immediately apply to immigrate to the United States, or (if already present in the United States can immediately apply to become a LPR).  The only stipulation to their eligibility is that the U.S. citizen child  must be at least 21 years old.  Once the parents become LPR, they may be eligible to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen at the conclusion of five years.

Children (Unmarried and Under 21 Years Old): As a U.S. citizen, your children who are unmarried and under the age of 21 years old can immediately apply to immigrate to the United States, or (if already present in the United States) can immediately apply to become a LPR.  Moreover, based upon age, a child may automatically become a U.S. citizen as soon as they become a LPR.  If a child is not eligible for automatic citizenship, he or she may be eligible to naturalize after five years of being a LPR.

Children (Over the Age of 21 and/or Married): As a U.S. citizen, your children who are married or who are over the age of 21 years old can be sponsored to receive a visa to immigrate to the United States.  Unfortunately, the visa is not an “immediate relative”  visa and your child will be required to wait for his or her visa number to become due.  Once the visa number ripens, your child will be able to immigrate to the United States and become a LPR.  Once your child has been an LPR, he or she will be able to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen.

Sibling: As a U.S. citizen, your siblings are eligible to apply for a visa to immigrate to the United States.  Unfortunately, the visa is not an “immediate relative” visa and your sibling will be required to wait for his or her visa number to become due.  Once the visa number ripens, your sibling will be able to immigrate to the United States and become a LPR.  Once your sibling has been an LPR, he or she will be able to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen.

If you are a new citizen and wish to help your family members become Green Card holders, please contact a NYC immigration attorney to learn more about your family’s immigration options.