What is a preference petition?
A preference petition is filed by a US citizen for: • Unmarried son or daughter over 21 years old • Married sons and daughters of any age • Brothers and Sisters of US citizens A lawful US resident can file a petition for: • Spouse • Unmarried child People who benefit from preference petitions must wait until there is a current visa number ready for them. This differs from immediate relative petitions, where the person who benefits from the petition is eligible right away to apply for permanent residence. This is because there are a limited number of people who are allowed to enter the US each year through the preference petition system. The length of time that a person must wait depends on which preference category s/he fits into and the applicant’s country of nationality. For information on the wait list by category, consult the State Department’s Visa Bulletin.
A preference petition is filed by a U.S. citizen for an adult unmarried son or daughter (21 or older) or for a married son or daughter (regardless of age) or by a lawful permanent resident for a spouse, unmarried child (under 21), unmarried son or daughter (21 or over), or by an employer on behalf of an employee. Unlike immediate relative petitions, where the person who benefits from the petition is eligible right away to apply for permanent residence, people who benefit from preference petitions must wait until there is a visa number ready (“current”) for them. This is because there are a limited number of people who are allowed to enter the U.S. each year through the preference petition system. The length of time that a person must wait depends on which preference category s/he fits into and the applicant’s country of nationality. To find out what the wait is like for each category, consult the State Department’s Visa Bulletin, at http://www.travel.state.
A preference petition is filed by a US citizen on behalf of an adult son or daughter (21 or older), or by a lawful permanent resident on behalf of a spouse, son or daughter, child, or by an employer on behalf of an employee. Unlike immediate relative petitions, where the person who benefits from the petition is eligible right away to apply for permanent residence, people who benefit from preference petitions must wait until there is a visa number ready (“current”) for them. This is because there is a limited number of people who are allowed to enter the US each year through the preference petition system. The length of time that a person must wait depends on which preference category s/he fits into. .
