How to Sponsor a Family Member for Immigration to the U.S.
Who Can You Sponsor?
U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) can sponsor certain family members for green cards, but the categories and wait times are very different.
U.S. Citizens can sponsor: Spouse (immediate relative — no wait), unmarried children under 21 (immediate relative — no wait), parents (immediate relative — no wait, sponsor must be 21+), unmarried adult children over 21 (F1 category — multi-year wait), married adult children (F3 category — longer wait), and siblings (F4 category — longest wait, often 15-20+ years for some countries).
Green Card Holders can sponsor: Spouse (F2A category — relatively short wait), unmarried children under 21 (F2A — same category as spouse), and unmarried adult children over 21 (F2B category — multi-year wait). Green card holders cannot sponsor parents, married children, or siblings — you must naturalize as a U.S. citizen first to sponsor these relatives.
Step 1: File Form I-130
File Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with USCIS. Filing fee: $535 (online). Include proof of your U.S. citizenship or LPR status, evidence of the family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate), and supporting evidence. USCIS processing: 5-14 months depending on the relationship category.
Step 2: Wait for Priority Date (Preference Categories)
Immediate relatives (spouse, parents, unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens) have no wait — proceed directly to the next step. For all other categories, you must wait for your priority date to become current on the Visa Bulletin. Wait times in April 2026: F1 (unmarried adult children of citizens): 7-22 years depending on country, F2A (spouse/children of LPR): current for most countries, F2B (unmarried adult children of LPR): 5-10 years, F3 (married adult children of citizens): 10-15+ years, F4 (siblings of citizens): 14-24 years. These waits are real — the system is severely backlogged.
Step 3: File for the Green Card
Once the priority date is current, the beneficiary either files I-485 adjustment of status (if they are in the U.S.) or goes through consular processing (if abroad). You must also file the I-864 Affidavit of Support proving you can financially support the immigrant at 125% of the federal poverty guidelines.
Income Requirements
As the sponsor, your household income must be at least 125% of the federal poverty guidelines for your household size. For 2026, approximately: 2-person household: ~$25,550, 3-person: ~$32,200, 4-person: ~$38,850. If your income is insufficient, you can use a joint sponsor (any U.S. citizen or LPR who meets the income requirement independently) or supplement with assets (3x the shortfall amount).