Overview
- Family sponsorship starts with Form I-130 to establish the qualifying relationship, supported by documents such as birth or marriage certificates.
- Financial support must be shown with Form I-864, with options for a joint sponsor or Form I-864EZ in qualifying cases.
- Beneficiaries in the U.S. may file Form I-485 only when a visa is available, while others proceed through consular processing; only immediate relatives have visas continuously available.
- Citizen sponsors 21 or older can petition siblings under the F4 preference, and petitioners must indicate on Form I-130 whether the beneficiary will adjust status or use consular processing.
- USCIS notes naturalization requires continuous residence and sufficient physical presence, warns that absences over six months can disrupt eligibility, and cites Form N-470 as a limited tool for qualifying work abroad.