Family-Sponsored Visas

There is no upper limit on the number of visas that may be issued to immediate relatives. To the extent that immediate relatives use less than 480,000 visas per year (465,000 until 1995) preference relatives may receive all of the visas not used by immediate relatives but in no case less than 226,000 visas per year.

Family-based preference categories subject to the numerical limitation are as follow, with minimum preference limits in parentheses.

• First Preference: Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their children if any (23,400)

• Second Preference: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons and daughters of lawful permanent resident aliens
  NOTE: At least 77 percent of all visas available for this category will go to the spouses and children; the remainder will be allocated to unmarried sons and daughters (114,200).
• Third Preference: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and children (23,400).
• Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and children, provided the U.S. citizens are 21 years of age or over (65,000).

For more general information on the steps to be taken in applying for immigrant visas, click here.