Immigrants can often help their family members obtain immigration opportunities. An individual with a visa can potentially travel with their spouse and children. Someone with a green card could also help their loved ones enter the United States.
However, citizens clearly have the most robust immigration opportunities of any group. Some people even decide to naturalize to help their loved ones immigrate. There are certain types of immigration that are only available to United States citizens and their family members.
What family members can only enter the United States if they have a relationship with a citizen?
Married adult children
Parents who obtain green cards or visas often want their children to travel with them. Unfortunately, there are limits for the children of lawful immigrants. Generally speaking, children have to be under the age of 21 and unmarried to travel with a parent who has a visa. Green card holders can apply to obtain green cards for their children, however, their children need to be unmarried to qualify. Younger children tend to have an easier time than those over the age of 21 because of the priority categories for the children of permanent residents. Those with married children can only extend them immigration opportunities if they become citizens.
Parents
Many people recognize that their parents gave them opportunities in life. They may want to repay a parent’s sacrifice by helping them retire comfortably in the United States. Currently, parents only qualify for green cards when their children are citizens and are 18 years of age or older. Those hoping to give their parents an opportunity during their retirement years may need to consider naturalizing.
Siblings
Few relationships are closer than the bond between siblings. However, there are very few immigration programs that honor the family connection between brothers and sisters. Neither visa holders nor permanent residents can obtain green cards for their siblings. Naturalization is the only viable strategy for helping a sibling lawfully enter the country through family-based immigration.
In some cases, people can support their loved ones by connecting them with domestic resources or financial support. In many cases, becoming a naturalized citizen is the best option available for those who want to help their loved ones. Learning more about family-based immigration can help people support their loved ones still living abroad. And, ultimately, extended family members may benefit from a lawful permanent resident’s decision to become a citizen.