Non Marriage-Based Immigration

United States citizens may petition for visas for specific family members. They are legally permitted to petition for the following relatives to receive permanent residence in the U.S.:

• Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21
• Unmarried children over the age of 21
• Married children
• Parents (once the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old)
• Brothers and sisters (once the U.S. citizen is at least 21 years old)

Residents that do not have U.S. citizenship, but who have permanent residence status, may petition for the following to also receive permanent residence:

• Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21
• Unmarried children over the age of 21

There is no annual quota for spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21 and parents of U.S. citizens, but petitions for all other family-based categories have significant waiting periods, regardless of whether or not the petitioner is a U.S. citizen. To check the waiting periods, please click here for the State Visa Bulletin.

For family currently living outside of the United States:

• K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa: to bring a fiancé residing outside the United States to the U.S. while continuing the immigration process.
• K-2 Visa: to bring the nonmarried children under the age of 21 accompanying the fiancé to the U.S.
• K-3 Nonimmigrant Visa: to bring a spouse residing outside of the United States to the U.S., while continuing the immigration process.
• K-4 Nonimmigrant Visa: to bring the under 21-year-old nonmarried Children of a qualified K-3 nonimmigrant visa applicant, who married the United States citizen prior to the children’s 18th birthday, to the U.S. while continuing the immigration process.

If you are a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident and wish to bring your family members to live in the United States, please contact GTH Law Group at 888-736-0895 for an initial consultation so that Ginny Hsiao may assist you with the eligibility criteria.