immigrant visas

Family Based Visas

People who are close relatives of US citizens and lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens are limited to a total of 480,000 visas per year (465,000 until 1995). Immediate Relatives as listed above are included in this number, as are preference relatives. (However, there is no upper limit on the number of visas which may be issued to immediate relatives.) Preference relatives receive all of the visas not used by immediate relatives, but in no case less than 226,000 visas per year. Family--based preference categories subject to the numerical limitation are: (preference limits in parentheses):

• First Preference: Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens, and children. (23,400)
• Second Preference: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons and daughters of a lawful permanent resident alien.
  NOTE: At least seventy-seven percent (77%) of all visas available for this second-preference category will go to the spouses and children; the remainder will be allocated to unmarried sons and daughters. (14,200)
• Third Preference: Married sons and daughters of US Citizens, and their spouses and children. (23,400)
• Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of US citizens, and their spouses and children, provided the US citizens are 21 years of age or older (5,000).