Full Answer
A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files Form I-130 with USCIS to establish a qualifying family relationship with a foreign relative. Approval of the I-130 does not by itself grant immigration benefits — it simply confirms the relationship and creates a place in line for an immigrant visa.
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents) have no annual cap and can move to the next step as soon as the I-130 is approved. Other family categories (siblings, married children, and family of lawful permanent residents) face waiting times of several years.
If your relative is already in the U.S. lawfully, the next step is usually adjustment of status (Form I-485). If abroad, the case moves to the National Visa Center for consular processing.
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