Family-based green card

A general family-petition journey with separate adjustment and consular branches.

Before you start

Key decisions

  • Immediate-relative category or family-preference category
  • Adjustment of status or consular processing
  • Whether a priority date must become current
  • Whether conditional residence rules apply to the relationship

What to prepare

  • Relationship evidence and Form I-130 materials
  • Civil documents
  • Affidavit of Support evidence where required
  • Medical examination
  • Proof of lawful entry or status when relevant to adjustment eligibility

Stage by stage

  1. Confirm the qualifying relationship

    Identify the correct family category and petitioner. Eligibility and visa availability differ by relationship.

    Family immigration

  2. File the family petition

    The qualifying petitioner prepares Form I-130 and the required relationship evidence.

    Form I-130

  3. Check visa availability when applicable

    Preference categories may require a current priority date. Immediate relatives have different numerical-limit rules.

    Visa Bulletin

  4. Choose the applicable final route

    Eligible applicants in the United States may use adjustment of status. Others may use consular processing through the Department of State.

    Adjustment guidance

  5. Complete the required final-stage documentation

    Follow the relevant USCIS or NVC instructions for forms, support evidence, medical requirements and appointments.

    Immigrant visa process

  6. Receive the decision and review next steps

    A petition approval is not a green card. Confirm the final residence decision and any conditions or follow-up obligations.

    After approval

Common points to watch

  • An approved I-130 is not itself a green card
  • Preference categories may wait for visa-number availability
  • Affidavit of Support requirements are separate from proving the relationship
  • Marriage-based cases can require extensive bona fide relationship evidence
  • Conditional residents may later need to remove conditions

Continue with TR Immigration

This roadmap is general educational guidance. A stage can be skipped, added or reordered depending on the category and individual facts. Always check the current form instructions, agency policy and official notices before filing.

Official starting source
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