If your loved ones live in another country and are looking to move to the U.S., it’s important to be aware of immigration laws. As a Texas resident, here are some crucial details for determining which of your relatives are eligible for a green card.
For U.S. citizens
If you are a U.S. citizen, your immediate relatives are eligible for green cards due to your citizenship status. Immediate relatives include your spouse, parents and unmarried children under the age of 21.
Permanent lawful residents
Your relatives may also be able to obtain a green card if you are a lawful permanent U.S. resident. If you have unmarried children who are 21 or younger or you are engaged to a U.S. citizen, they could be eligible for a green card. Children of fiancés can obtain green card status.
Additional considerations
According to immigration law, widows and widowers of U.S. citizens are eligible for a green card as long as the person obtaining the green card was married to the U.S. citizen spouse at the time of the spouse’s death. An abused spouse of a lawful permanent resident or U.S. citizen can also get a green card. Abused unmarried children who are younger than 21 years old and have a parent who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident can apply for a green card as well. Green card applications are also accepted for abused parents of U.S. citizens.
The process of applying for a green card and the requirements to do so aren’t always easy to understand, so it’s beneficial to seek help. Talk to your immigration lawyer about the process of applying for a green card to ensure that your family members qualify.