If you are a citizen who is planning on acting as a green card sponsor for a family member, then there are a few things that you should know. First and foremost you will need to be clear on which family members that you can sponsor. All family members may not necessarily qualify. You will also need to know the difference between an “immediate relative” and a “preference relative” in order to further clarify who you can sponsor for the green card.
Understanding Green Card Sponsorship
When you act as a green card sponsor, the nature of your relationship with the person you are sponsoring is key.
- According to the rules of immigration an “immediate relative” is defined as the spouse, child under 21 or parent of a United States citizen.
- A “preference relative” is a relative that you have another sort of family relationship with. A preference relative may include a United States citizen’s married children over 21, siblings, or the spouses of their children.
What is the Wait Time When You Sponsor a Green Card
The different classes of relatives are crucial in better understanding who you can sponsor for a green card. Depending who you are sponsoring, and the preference category that they are placed in, the wait time can be anywhere from five to eleven years. For example, if you sponsor your spouse and children, they will be placed in the higher preference category and the green card application will generally have a turnaround time of approximately five years.
If you are sponsoring your adult, unmarried child then he or she will be placed in the lesser preference category and the wait time will generally be six years or more. This is something that you need to think about and plan for when arranging for immigration to the US. It has been said time and again that immediate relatives can get a green card rather quickly, where as preference relatives are usually forced to wait for quite some time for their applications to be processed.
If you have a brother or sister that did not migrate with you to the United States from another country, then you need to realize that he or she will have an estimated wait time of eleven years. Keep this in mind as you make yourself accessible to family and friends for card sponsorship.
Getting Help
While there are long wait times, there are steps you can take to try to expedite the process. One of the best things you can do is to speak to a qualified and experienced immigration attorney who can explain all your options to you and who can help you make sure your application to act as a green card sponsor is completed properly so there are no further delays added to your wait time.
