Are you living, working, or a U.S. citizen and want to bring your relatives to the United States for permanent residence? Not sure who can be sponsored and how long the waiting time will be?
This is a common question for many Vietnamese families – and today, NexBridge will help you clearly understand which relatives are eligible for sponsorship and the approximate waiting time.
1. U.S. Citizens can sponsor:
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 ➜ About 1–2 years
Children over 21, married ➜ 7–12 years
Parents ➜ About 1–2 years
Brothers and sisters ➜ 14–16 years
2. U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) can sponsor:
Spouse ➜ 2–4 years
Unmarried children under/over 21 ➜ 3–8 years
⚠️ Note: Both U.S. citizens and Green Card holders cannot sponsor: grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, or friends.
Factors affecting the waiting time:
Preference category (Family First, Second, F3, F4, etc.)
Nationality of the petitioner
Annual backlog of cases
Priority Date of the case (according to the USCIS Visa Bulletin)
👉 That’s why if you are sponsoring a spouse or children under 21, it’s best to file the petition early to avoid your child “aging out” and moving into another preference category.
Also, keep in mind that petitions may change category if the sponsor becomes a U.S. citizen during the waiting period.