Are there limitations to the number of immigrant visas?
• Once a visa is applied for, is it guaranteed that it will be issued ? Q: How many categories of family based immigration are there? A: The Immigration and Nationality Act allows for the immigration of foreigners to the United States based on relationship to a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. Family-based immigration falls under two basic categories: unlimited and limited. Return to index . . . Q: What is “unlimited family-based immigration”? A: For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (“IR”): The spouse, widow(er) and unmarried children under 21 of a U.S. citizen, and the parent of a U.S. citizen who is 21 or older are eligible for immigration. For returning residents (“SB”): Immigrants who lived in the United States previously as lawful permanent residents and are returning to live in the U.S. after a temporary visit of more than one year abroad are eligible. Return to index . . . Q: What is limited family-based immigration? A: For Family First Preference (“F1”): Unmarried
