How Many Family-Based Green Card Spillovers in 2025?  In Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, it is projected that at least 25,000 unused family-based green cards from previous years, particularly FY 2023, will spill over into the employment-based green card categories. This spillover would increase the employment-based green card cap to approximately 165,000, which is 25,000 more than [...]

 What Is a Family-Based Green Card? A family-based green card is a type of U.S. permanent residency that allows individuals to live and work in the United States based on their family relationship with a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder). It is one of the most common pathways to immigration in the [...]

 Has the Family-Based Green Card Stopped?No, family-based green cards have not been stopped. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continues to accept and process applications for eligible relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. This includes spouses, children, parents, and siblings. While there have been occasional delays or temporary pauses in processing due [...]

  How to Apply for a Family-Based Green Card Applying for a family-based green card involves a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident sponsoring an eligible relative for permanent residency. The process starts with the sponsor filing Form I-130 with USCIS to prove the family relationship. Once approved, U.S. citizens' immediate relatives can proceed immediately, [...]

 How Many Family-Based Green Cards Are Issued Each Year?The number of family-based green cards issued annually in the United States is influenced by statutory caps, processing efficiencies, and demand. Here's an overview:Family Preference Categories (Capped at 226,000 Annually)Family preference categories are subject to an annual cap of 226,000 visas. These categories include:F1: Unmarried adult children [...]

 How Long Does It Take for a Family-Based Green Card?The time it takes to get a family-based green card varies based on the applicant’s relationship to the U.S. sponsor and their country of origin. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens—including spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents—typically have a faster process, taking around 12 to 18 [...]

 How Long Does Family Based Green Card Take?The processing time for a family-based green card depends on the relationship between the petitioner and the beneficiary, as well as the applicant's country of origin. For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens—including spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents—the process usually takes about  9.5 to 14.3 months since [...]

 What Is the Minimum Income to Sponsor a Spouse?The minimum income to sponsor a spouse for a U.S. green card depends on the federal poverty guidelines and household size. As of 2024, the sponsor generally must earn at least 125% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For a household of two people (the sponsor and [...]

 Are You Financially Responsible for Someone on a K-1 Visa?Yes, if you are a U.S. citizen petitioner for someone entering the U.S. on a K-1 fiancé(e) visa, you are financially responsible for them, at least to a certain extent.Here's How It Works:When your fiancé(e) enters the U.S. on a K-1 visa, you must:Get married within [...]

 Is It worth Getting a Lawyer for a K-1 Visa?Whether or not hiring a lawyer for a K-1 visa is worth it depends on your individual situation.If your case is straightforward—with no previous visa denials, criminal history, or complex immigration issues—you might be able to handle the process on your own by carefully following USCIS [...]