Empowering Immigrants, Strengthening America
Yes. As a United States citizen or green card holder living in New Jersey, you can petition certain close relatives to join you here, though exactly who qualifies depends on your own status. DeCosmo Law helps Camden-area families understand their options for family-based immigration.
Who Can You Sponsor as a U.S. Citizen?
United States citizens have the widest reach under immigration law. Your closest relatives count as immediate relatives, a group that faces no annual numerical limit on green cards, which keeps their path more direct. Immediate relatives are as follows:
- A husband or wife
- Unmarried children under the age of 21
- Parents, once you are 21 or older
United States citizens may also petition for adult children, married children, and siblings. These relatives fall into preference categories with annual limits, so the type of family relationship directly affects the process and expected wait.
The Narrower Path for Green Card Holders
Green card holders, formally called lawful permanent residents, have a shorter list. You can petition for a spouse and unmarried children, but not for parents or siblings, and those cases sit in the capped family preference categories set by the Immigration and Nationality Act at 8 U.S.C. Section 1153.
If your status changes from resident to citizen while a case is pending, the rules can shift in your relative’s favor. That upgrade is one reason your current status is worth confirming before you file anything.
Which Relatives Cannot Be Sponsored at All?
Some relationships have no place in the system, which catches many families off guard. Immigration law offers no category for grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws, or an unmarried partner, so you cannot sponsor them like a spouse or child. The rules draw a firm line, no matter the bond.
How Does the Petition Actually Begin?
The process begins by filing a petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. After approval, your relative must either apply to adjust status in the United States or complete consular processing abroad.
A successful petition starts with complete and accurate documentation, including:
- Form I-130, the Petition for Alien Relative
- Proof of your citizenship or permanent residence
- Birth or marriage records tying you to the relative
- An Affidavit of Support covering your finances
Small errors on these forms can stall a case or trigger a request for more evidence. Careful, consistent paperwork keeps your relative’s file moving smoothly through the agency instead of landing in a pile of questions.
Where Your Interview Will Happen
For South Jersey residents, geography determines where your interview happens. Camden County falls under the Mount Laurel Field Office on Fellowship Road, so your relative’s green card interview will most likely be scheduled there rather than in Newark. Preparing for that office in advance gives your family one less surprise.
Bring Your Family’s Case to DeCosmo Law
Selecting the correct immigration category and submitting an accurate petition can affect the entire case. DeCosmo Law helps families throughout Camden and South Jersey manage each step, from the initial filing through the final interview. Call (856) 361-2122 or schedule a consultation online, and our attorneys will lay out the strongest path for your relatives.