Family Green Card: The Complete 2026 Guide to Family-Based Immigration

⚠️ This article was reviewed by Jinwen Liu, Esq., licensed attorney in New York. Last updated: June 19, 2026.

Family-based immigration allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to sponsor certain family members for green cards. Immediate relatives (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens) have no annual numerical limits and typically process in 12-24 months. Family preference categories (F1-F4) face annual caps and significant country-specific backlogs, particularly for Mexico and the Philippines. The adjustment of status process and consular processing each have distinct requirements and timelines.