Family Green Cards
Family-based green card filings: sponsoring a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. These guides cover the I-130 petition, the I-485 adjustment of status, the I-864 affidavit of support, and what happens at the National Visa Center after approval.
How the I-130 process works
A step-by-step walk through the I-130 petition: what you mail to USCIS, what USCIS does next, and how long each stage typically takes.
I-130 vs I-485: what's the difference
Two forms, two purposes: I-130 establishes the family relationship; I-485 adjusts status inside the US. Here is when each applies.
How long does the I-130 take
Current I-130 processing times vary by service center and case type. Here is how to read the USCIS estimate tool and what "80th percentile" means.
Documents you'll need for I-130
Petitioner identity, beneficiary identity, relationship evidence, and financial support: the four document categories an I-130 package needs.
Proving a real marriage to USCIS
Joint finances, joint residence, joint social life, photos, affidavits: the categories USCIS looks at when evaluating a bona fide marriage.
The I-864 affidavit of support
Form I-864 is the financial sponsor's promise to USCIS. Here is who signs it, what income thresholds apply, and how joint sponsors work.
Consular processing vs adjustment of status
The branch depends on where the beneficiary is. Consular processing happens abroad; adjustment of status happens inside the US. Here is how each path runs end-to-end.
What happens after I-130 approval (NVC)
Approved I-130 cases for beneficiaries abroad route to the National Visa Center. Here is what the NVC stage involves, from fee bills to DS-260.
The real cost of filing I-130
USCIS filing fee, medical exam, attorney or preparer fee, consular fees: the full all-in stack for an I-130 case, with current dollar ranges.
Do you need a lawyer for I-130
Some I-130 cases genuinely need an attorney; others don't. Here is the honest framing of which factual conditions push a case into legal-help territory.
I-130 for a parent
US citizens 21 and older can petition for a parent under the immediate-relative category. Here is what the document requirements and process look like.
I-130 for a sibling or unmarried child
Sibling and unmarried-child cases run on the family-preference categories with multi-year waits. Here is how preference categories and age-out work.
Priority dates and the Visa Bulletin
Your priority date is the date USCIS received your I-130. The Visa Bulletin tells you when a visa is available for that date. Here is how to read it.