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People are often surprised to learn how much your own status affects whom you can sponsor. We get this question a lot — “Does it really matter if I’m a green card holder instead of a citizen?” It does. It matters a lot.
When it comes to family immigration, the law divides everything into two broad categories. Once you understand that, most of the confusion clears up.
Immediate Relatives vs. Family Preference
Here’s the short version: if you’re a U.S. citizen, some relatives are considered immediate relatives. Their visas aren’t capped, which means there’s no waiting list.
If you’re a lawful permanent resident (LPR), your relatives go into family preference categories. These are subject to annual limits, so people wait — sometimes for a few years, sometimes for more than a decade.
That one difference — whether there’s a limit or not — can change everything about how long a case takes.
What U.S. Citizens Can Do
Citizens have the broadest options. You can petition for:
- Your spouse;
- Your children (either married or unmarried, no age restrictions);
- Your parents (if you’re 21 or older);
- Your brothers and sisters (if you’re 21 or older).
But only your spouse and unmarried children under 21 count as immediate relatives. Those cases move the fastest. There’s no quota, no visa line.
Parents of U.S. citizens are also considered immediate relatives — another big advantage once you hit age 21.
Siblings and married children fall into family-preference categories, which can take much longer. For people from countries like Mexico or the Philippines, the backlog for siblings can easily exceed 15 years.
What Green Card Holders Can Do
Lawful permanent residents can still file family petitions, but the list of eligible family members is shorter. You can sponsor:
- Your spouse;
- Your unmarried children (of any age).
That’s it. No parents, no married children, no siblings.
And because every LPR petition falls under the quota system, your relatives wait until their priority date — the date USCIS received your petition — becomes current.
If your child gets married before you become a citizen, the petition is automatically canceled. There’s no fix for that one except to naturalize and file a new petition.
Why Priority Dates Matter
Every petition under the preference categories gets a priority date, which basically means your place in line. The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin updates each month to show which dates are now being processed.
If you’re sponsoring as a U.S. citizen and your relative is considered an immediate relative, you skip this entire system. The difference can be months versus many years.
We once had a client who filed for her husband while she was still a green card holder. The wait was dragging on — then she became a citizen. We sent proof to the National Visa Center, and the case jumped forward almost immediately. That upgrade changed everything.
Financial Sponsorship
Both citizens and green card holders must file an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) showing they meet the income requirement — generally 125% of the federal poverty guideline.
That part doesn’t change, no matter what your status is. The only change is timing: citizen cases often move so fast that financial documents don’t have time to expire before review. LPR cases sometimes sit long enough that we must refresh income records multiple times.
The Country Factor
The applicant’s country of origin also affects how long a case takes. The U.S. limits the number of family visas issued to each country per year, so high-demand countries (Mexico, the Philippines, India, China) face longer waits.
That’s why you’ll see two families file on the same day — one from the U.K. and one from Manila — and their results arrive years apart.
Upgrading After You Naturalize
If you’re already a green card holder and have petitions pending, becoming a citizen can help.
Once you naturalize, you can send a copy of your citizenship certificate to USCIS or the National Visa Center and request an upgrade. For spouses and minor kids, that usually means instant movement to the immediate-relative category — no more quota.
For adult children, the switch can change categories, and the wait time may go up or down depending on the month. Always check the Visa Bulletin before making a decision.
What It Means for Families
If you’re a green card holder and planning to sponsor someone, think ahead. Naturalizing can shave years off the process—and open the door to more relatives.
The main difference boils down to two words: speed and scope. Citizens can help more family members, and those family members usually wait less time.
It’s also simpler. Fewer categories, fewer quota issues, faster processing.
Immigration law can be frustrating, but it’s meant to keep families together — it just doesn’t always do it quickly. Knowing how these categories work gives you a real advantage when you’re planning ahead.
Sources:
- Immigration and Nationality Act §§201–204
- USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 6, Pt. B
- U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin
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