General Information

Immigrating to the United States to live here permanently is an important, and complex decision. This section provides information to help foreign citizens desiring to permanently immigrate to determine the visas, requirements, and related materials they will need to apply to immigrate to the United States. For information on who can immigrate to the U.S., click on Visa Types for Immigrants . Click on the links below for information on visa forms, the Affidavit of Support, other requirements, and related materials for immigrants. In general, to apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen relative(s), U.S. lawful permanent resident, or by a prospective employer, and be the beneficiary of an approved petition. Therefore, a first step is filing a petition.

Legal Rights Available to Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence in the United States and Facts about Immigrating on Marriage-based Visa.

Petitions Required to be Filed in the U.S.

American citizens and lawful permanent resident sponsors residing in the United States file I-130 petitions at the U.S. Center for Immigration Services Center having jurisdiction over their place of U.S. residence.

Filing Petitions Abroad

Petitions, Form I-130, which can be filed abroad are limited. Petitions for immediate relative immigrant classifications can be filed abroad by American citizen petitioners who have been authorized to be continuously resident in their consular districts for at least the preceding six months, including members of the U.S. armed forces, emergency cases involving life and death or health and safety, and others determined to be in the national interest. Petitions are filed with USCIS abroad or at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate (when there is no USCIS presence).

Types of Immigrant Visas

Immediate Relatives (no numerical limit):

• IR-1 Spouse of a U.S. Citizen
• IR-2 Minor Child of a U.S. Citizen 
• IR-3 Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. Citizen 
• IR-4 Orphan to be adopted in the U.S. by a U.S. Citizen 
• IR-5 Parent of a U.S. Citizen

Note: Immediate relatives each require their own petition. Derivative applicants (spouses, minor children) are not allowed to travel with the beneficiary of an IR petition.

Numerically Limited Categories (waiting period of several years in some cases.):

• F-1 Unmarried adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens

• F-2 Spouses, children, and unmarried sons and daughters of Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) 
• F-3 Married sons and daughters of U.S. Citizens 
• F-4 Brothers and Sisters of U.S. Citizens 
• Employment Based Immigrants with approved petitions filed by a company or organization in the U.S.

Note: Derivative applicants (spouse and minor children) ARE allowed to travel on the petition of a beneficiary of the above categories.