Green Card through Immediate Relatives
Reunite with your close family members through the Immediate Relative category, the fastest and priority path to obtain permanent residence in the United States when the beneficiary is a spouse, minor child, or parent of a U.S. citizen.
LOIGICA supports you from the I-130 petition to final approval.
What is the Green Card through Immediate Relatives
The Green Card through immediate relatives allows certain family members of U.S. citizens to obtain permanent residence without being subject to annual quotas, which means no waiting list and no dependence on the Visa Bulletin.
This category includes:
- Spouses of U.S. citizens.
- Unmarried children under 21 years old.
- Parents of U.S. citizens over 21 years old.
- It is the fastest and most flexible route within family reunification.
How to Obtain the Green Card through Immediate Relatives
The Immediate Relative (IR) process is more agile than the Family Preference system, but requires solid evidence, coherent documentation, and detailed preparation.
At LOIGICA we guide every stage: from the I-130 petition, eligibility review, financial preparation, to adjustment of status or consular process.
- No waiting list: visas always available.
- Faster processes than any family category with quota.
- Allows applying for adjustment of status within the U.S. if the beneficiary is in the country legally.
- Possibility of requesting work permit (EAD) and travel (Advance Parole) during the process.
- Beneficiaries obtain permanent residence with options for citizenship.
- Does not depend on employment, investment, or score: only on family relationship.
- Submit the duly supported I-130 petition.
- Demonstrate the family relationship:
- Marriage certificate
- Birth certificate
- Adoption documents (if applicable)
- The sponsor must be a U.S. citizen.
- Demonstrate financial capacity through the I-864 (Affidavit of Support).
- Meet admissibility requirements: background, medical examination, biometric documentation.
- Complete adjustment of status (I-485) or consular process, as applicable.
- Determination of eligibility by category (IR-1, CR-1, IR-2, IR-5).
- Complete preparation of the I-130 petition with unequivocal evidence of the relationship.
- Comprehensive review of financial documentation (I-864).
- Immigration strategy according to country, length of stay, history, and expectations.
- Preparation of adjustment of status package or consular process.
- Support in interview and follow-up until Green Card issuance.
Get together with your family as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Green Card through Immediate Relatives
Generally between 8 and 14 months, depending on the type of process (adjustment or consular) and processing center.
IR-1: marriage over 2 years → 10-year Green Card.
CR-1: marriage under 2 years → conditional residence for 2 years.
Yes, if you apply for adjustment of status within the U.S., you can request:
- Work permit (EAD)
- Travel permit (Advance Parole)
No. Only U.S. citizens 21+ years old can do so.
You will obtain a conditional Green Card (CR-1) and must file form I-751 after 2 years to remove the condition.
- Marriage certificate
- Photos together
- Evidence of cohabitation
- Shared accounts or contracts
- Evidence of visits, trips, or communication
- The more joint evidence, the stronger the case.
A co-sponsor (joint sponsor) can be included as long as they meet the financial requirements.
Yes, but it requires legal analysis. It must be demonstrated that there was no prior intent to immigrate when entering as a tourist.
Yes, in the case of IR-1/CR-1, if the children qualify as stepchildren. This applies as long as the marriage to the citizen took place before the child turned 18.