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Join Family

A life together starts with clear guidance.

Whether you plan to marry, reunite with your spouse, or help another relative move, the starting point is your relationship and your family member’s U.S. status.

YOUR PLANS, EXPLAINED SIMPLY

Who is sponsoring whom?

A U.S. citizen and a green card holder do not have the same sponsorship options. Age, marital status, and where you live also matter.

Get help with your questions
EXPLORE YOUR SITUATION

Different plans. Different requirements.

03 routes explained
01K-1

We are engaged and want to marry in the U.S.

For a foreign fiancé or fiancée of a U.S. citizen. After entering on K-1, you must marry the sponsoring citizen within 90 days.

What to check

Marriage does not automatically give you a green card. A separate application to become a permanent resident follows.

Bring to the conversationYour relationship history, plans to marry, and evidence of meeting in person.

Read the K-1 guide
02CR-1 / IR-1

We are already married and want to live together.

These spouse immigrant visa categories are used when an eligible spouse completes the process from abroad. Admission on the immigrant visa makes the spouse a permanent resident.

What to check

CR-1 generally means the marriage is under two years old when residence begins, so the residence is conditional.

Bring to the conversationYour marriage certificate, evidence of your life together, and the sponsor’s financial information.

Read the CR-1 / IR-1 guide
03Family petition · I-130

I want to sponsor a parent, child, or another eligible relative.

Form I-130 establishes a qualifying family relationship. It is a petition, not a visa. Which relatives can qualify depends on whether the sponsor is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

What to check

An approved petition alone does not grant lawful status or permission to work. Some family categories have visa-number waits.

Bring to the conversationThe exact relationship, everyone’s ages and marital status, and the sponsor’s citizenship or green card details.

Read official family guidance ↗
BEFORE YOU SPEAK WITH SOMEONE

A few details make the advice more useful.

You can start with the basics. These questions help a professional understand what you need.

  1. Are you engaged, married, or related another way?
  2. Is your family member a U.S. citizen or a green card holder?
  3. Where does each person live now?
  4. Are any children included in your plans?
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COMMON QUESTIONS
Is the fiancé route always faster than the spouse route?

No. Compare the full process, including what happens after arrival, rather than relying on one processing-time estimate.

Can every relative be sponsored?

No. Family immigration uses specific relationships and categories. A professional can explain what is available for your family and whether visa numbers are available.

This is general information, not a decision about your eligibility. Requirements and procedures can change. A licensed attorney or accredited representative can review your circumstances.

Go deeper with official information

Check the government guidance when planning your next step.

Family immigration ↗Fiancé visa process ↗Spouse immigrant visas ↗

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