Family-based green card
A green card through your U.S. family.
If you're the child, parent, or sibling of a U.S. citizen — or the spouse or child of a permanent resident — you may be able to get a green card through Adjustment of Status. It's the same process as a marriage-based case, with a different family relationship at its core.
What family-based Adjustment of Status is
Adjustment of Status (AOS) is how an eligible person already inside the United States becomes a lawful permanent resident without leaving the country. A qualifying U.S. relative files Form I-130 to establish the family relationship, and the applicant files Form I-485 to request the green card.
Family-based AOS covers relationships other than marriage to a U.S. citizen: unmarried and married children of citizens, parents of adult citizens, siblings of citizens, and the spouses and children of permanent residents. The forms and the workflow are nearly identical to a marriage-based case — what changes is the category and the evidence of the relationship.
One important difference is timing. Some family categories are 'immediate relatives' with no annual cap, while others fall into 'preference categories' that have waiting lists. Whether you can file the I-485 right away depends on your category and country.
Who qualifies
Family-based green cards are organized into categories, and your category determines your wait and when you can file. Common ones include:
- Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens: parents of a citizen who is 21 or older, and unmarried children under 21 of a citizen.
- Unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of U.S. citizens (family first preference).
- Spouses and unmarried children of lawful permanent residents (family second preference).
- Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens (family third preference).
- Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens who are 21 or older (family fourth preference).
- The applicant is generally inside the U.S. and otherwise eligible to adjust status.
Forms this service covers
A family-based Adjustment of Status case centers on two USCIS forms, often filed together when a visa is available:
Petition for Alien Relative
Filed by the U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative to establish the qualifying family relationship.
Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
Filed by the applicant to request the green card from inside the United States.
How it will work
- 01
Confirm your category
We help you identify your family category and whether a visa is available to file now.
- 02
Answer guided questions
Plain-language questions about you, your relative, and your relationship.
- 03
Upload your documents
We organize proof of the relationship, identity, and eligibility into a clean package.
- 04
Print, sign, and mail
You get a filing-ready package with instructions and the correct USCIS address.
Family green card questions
- How is this different from the marriage green card?
- The process and forms (I-130 + I-485) are the same. The difference is the qualifying relationship — a parent, child, or sibling instead of a spouse — and the evidence used to prove it.
- How long does a family-based green card take?
- It depends heavily on your category and country of origin. Immediate relatives generally move faster; preference categories can involve multi-year waits governed by the monthly Visa Bulletin. We don't estimate USCIS times — check the official Visa Bulletin at travel.state.gov and processing times at uscis.gov.
- Can I file the I-130 and I-485 at the same time?
- Sometimes. If you're an immediate relative, the two are often filed together. In preference categories, you typically file the I-485 only once a visa is available for your priority date. We'll guide you based on your category.
- Do I have to be inside the United States?
- Adjustment of Status is for people already in the U.S. who are eligible to adjust. Relatives outside the U.S. usually go through consular processing instead, which is a different path.
- Is AOSvisa a law firm?
- No. AOSvisa is self-help software. We don't provide legal advice. If your case has complications, consult a licensed immigration attorney.
AOSvisa is not a law firm
AOSvisa is self-help software that helps you prepare USCIS forms from the information you provide. We don't provide legal advice, don't create an attorney-client relationship, and can't guarantee any outcome. Family categories and wait times are set by U.S. law and the monthly Visa Bulletin. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed immigration attorney.
Ready to take the next step?
Schedule a call or send us your details, and we'll help you with your family-based green card.
Not sure if this is right for you?
Whether you want to check if you qualify, learn more about how our service works, or just have questions — we're here to help. Call or email us and we'll walk you through it.