Becoming a United States citizen through naturalization is an incredible achievement. With your citizenship comes new rights and responsibilities, such as voting and serving on a jury.
However, one of the most significant benefits of U.S. citizenship is the impact it has on your ability to reunite with family members from your country of origin. You now have more options for bringing your loved ones to the United States.
New sponsorship possibilities
As a U.S. citizen, you can sponsor “immediate relatives.” There are no annual limits on the number of visas issued, so your eligible relatives don’t have to wait for a visa to become available. Immediate relatives you can sponsor include:
- Spouses
- Unmarried children under 21, including biological, adopted and step-children
- Parents (if you are at least 21)
You can also file petitions under the Family Preference categories. Unlike the immediate relative category, there is an annual cap on available visas. The Family Preference would include both married and unmarried children age 21 and older and siblings.
If you were a green card holder, your spouse and minor children also would have fallen under the Family Preference category. Upon becoming a U.S. citizen, your pending petition automatically converts to an Immediate Relative petition. This conversion eliminates the wait for a visa to become available, moving your family member to the front of the line.
By becoming a U.S. citizen, you can eliminate years of waiting for your family members. In addition, you have access to sponsorship possibilities that were previously unavailable. However, navigating the path to naturalization can be challenging. Working with a legal representative can provide clarity on things you may not understand and help ensure your petitions are handled correctly.