Lawful Permanent Residents

United States citizens and lawful permanent residents may file immigrant visa petitions on behalf of preference relatives. Preference relatives are divided by immigration law into five categories:

First preference (F1) – Unmarried Sons and Daughters, 21 Years of Age and Older, of U.S. Citizens;
Second preference (F2A) – Spouses and Children (Unmarried and Under 21 Years of Age) of Lawful Permanent Residents;
Second preference (F2B) – Unmarried Sons and Daughters, 21 Years of Age and Older, of Lawful Permanent Residents;
Third preference (F3) – Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens; and
Fourth preference (F4) – Brothers and Sisters of U.S. Citizens (if the U.S. Citizen is 21 Years of Age and Older).

Immigrant visas for preference relatives are numerically limited each fiscal year. Therefore, some family preference relatives must wait in what is known as the “visa queue” for a visa to become available.

Disclaimer: This post is provided by Lally Immigration Services, LLC for informational and marketing purposes. This article does not constitute legal advice nor does it establish an attorney-client relationship. No reader should act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of any information presented in this article, or elsewhere on this website, without seeking the advice of appropriate legal counsel, or other professional counsel, licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. Lally Immigration Services, LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability with respect to any actions taken, or not taken, based on any content of this article or website. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Last Updated: 09/29/2023