Who can apply for a green card?
Immediate family members of a U.S. citizen are eligible to receive a green card. The number of relatives issued green cards is not restricted; however, only immediate family members are instantly eligible. Immediate family members include: • Spouses (or recent widows or widowers) • Unmarried children below age 21 • Stepchildren and stepparents (if the spouse married before the minor turned 18) • Children who were adopted before turning 16 years old Extended family members of U.S. citizens such as adult children, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents may also be issued a green card, although only 500,000 of these extended family member green cards are issued each year. These cards are distributed on a first-come, first serve basis. Some extended family green card applicants have waited up to 24 years to earn approval, while others are approved in three years. Unmarried children above age 21 receive first preference, followed by the immediate families of current green card holders, mar
