News & Insights

In the United States immigration system, family-based petitions are one of the most common ways individuals obtain lawful permanent residency (a green card). However, not all family relationships are treated equally under U.S. immigration law. The law makes a critical distinction between "Immediate Relatives" and "Non-Immediate Relatives," also known as "Preference Categories." This distinction impacts everything from the availability of visas to the speed and manner of proc