There are many different ways and reasons that people are living in New York without being a U.S. citizen. They may have work visas, school visas or other ways that they are in the country on a temporary basis. Others are in the country permanently through Green Cards. There are different ways people can obtain Green Cards, but one of the more common ways is through family members.
To be eligible through family members, people need to meet certain eligibility requirements.
Family members eligible for Green Cards
One way that people can be eligible for a Green Card is through immediate family members. People can be eligible if they are a spouse, unmarried child under the age of 21 or a parent of a U.S. citizen.
Other family members of U.S. citizens may also be eligible based on an order of preference Under the family preference:
- First preference is unmarried children of U.S. citizens over 21 years old
- The second preference is divided into two categories. Second preference A is spouses and unmarried children under 21 years old of lawful permanent residents. Second preference B is unmarried children over 21 years old of lawful permanent residents.
- Third preference is married children of U.S. citizens
- Fourth preference is siblings of U.S. citizens over the age of 21
People may also be eligible if they are the fiancé of a U.S. citizen or the child of the fiancé of a U.S. citizen. Widows and widowers of U.S. citizens may also be eligible if they were married to the U.S. citizen when they passed away.
There are many family members of people in New York who are eligible to obtain their Green Card. Being eligible just means that they can start the process for obtaining a Green Card. They still must go through the application process in order to actually receive their Green Card though. Experienced attorneys understand the complexities of this process and may be able to guide one through it.