| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and permanent | | | | Information for Petitioning a Child or Parent |
| residents may be granted entry to the United States | | | | U.S. citizens who wish to bring a child to the U.S. |
| when the citizen or permanent resident petitions on | | | | should know the following: |
| their behalf. The immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | | | | - The child must be unmarried for a parent to be able |
| have greater priority than those of permanent | | | | to petition him or her |
| residents, and these relatives are automatically | | | | - The child must be under the age of 21 to be |
| granted a visa once their petition has been approved. | | | | petitioned by a parent |
| Other relatives of U.S. citizens and relatives of | | | | U.S. citizens petitioning on behalf of a foreign-born |
| permanent residents, on the other hand, must wait | | | | parent must meet the following guidelines: |
| until a visa becomes available, meaning that they will | | | | - The individual petitioning a parent must be 21 years |
| be added to a wait list for legal entry. | | | | of age or older |
| Information for Petitioning a Spouse | | | | - To have a parent admitted to the U.S., the citizen |
| If you are a U.S. citizen and wish to petition a foreign | | | | must show that s/he can financially support the |
| national spouse to immigrate to the U.S., here are | | | | parent or parent(s) for whom s/he is petitioning |
| some key points to know about the process: | | | | - If the sponsor cannot provide proof of the ability |
| - A U.S. citizen can petition a spouse, whether the | | | | to financially support his or her parents, the parents |
| spouse is currently located in the U.S. or abroad | | | | may be considered a financial risk to the state and |
| - A spouse who is granted entry may apply to | | | | may be refused entry to the U.S. |
| become a U.S. permanent resident | | | | Knowing these key points regarding the immigration |
| - If the citizen and spouse have been married for | | | | petition process can help a sponsor ensure that his or |
| less than two years, then the spouse will first be | | | | her petition meets the key guidelines required for |
| granted a conditional green card, which allows for | | | | entry. |
| permanent residency with some restrictions | | | | For More Information |
| - After two years in the U.S. on a conditional green | | | | To learn more about the immigration petition process |
| card, the spouse may apply to have the restrictions | | | | and how you can apply to have an immediate relative |
| removed | | | | admitted to the United States, please visit the |
| - While a spouse is waiting for his or her petition to | | | | website of the Orange County immigration lawyers |
| be processed, s/he may apply for a K-3 | | | | of Garg & Associates, P.C., today. |
| non-immigrant visa to stay in the U.S. | | | | |