The United States is a country founded by immigrants, and over 200 years later, hundreds of thousands continue to migrate to fulfill dreams of finding a better life and opportunities in America.
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 set the legal requirements for those migrating to the United States and is based primarily on familial and work-related immigration. Up to 480,000 family-based visas are available each year, allowing family members of American citizens and lawful permanent residents the opportunity to join their relatives in the United States. Nearly 70 percent of legal immigration per year is family based.
Those entering the United States on family-based visas are granted permanent resident status, commonly known as a green card, allowing them to live and work freely within the country. There are many advantages of family-based immigration to both migrants and the United States, contributing to the economy, education system, and local and state communities.
What Is Family-Based Immigration?
Visa sponsorship, petitioning the U.S. government to permanently bring family members into the country, is not limited to American citizens. Family-based immigration allows lawful permanent residents, green card holders, currently residing in the United States the opportunity to lawfully reunite their family in the country. There are two relative groups eligible for family-based visas: immediate relatives and family preference. Immediate relatives include spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21; orphan children adopted in their home country; orphan children being adopted in the United States; and parents of the sponsor over the age of 21. Family preference categories are for more distant relatives and apply to unmarried children and their minor children; spouses of lawful permanent residents, their minor children, and unmarried children over the age of 21; married children, their spouses, and minor children; and brothers and sisters, their spouses, and minor children. For all groups, the sponsor must initiate the petition, prove legitimacy of relatives, and demonstrate financial responsibility for the family members. Relatives will be required to submit to a medical examination, vaccinations, background checks, and documentation stating they will not rely on government assistance programs once in the United States.Benefits of Family-Based Immigration
According to the American Immigration Council (AIC), family-based immigrants contribute greatly to the economy, business development, urban development, and the current and future workforce, where they are the most advancing segment of the workforce. The AIC highlights some of the economic, social, and labor benefits of family-based immigration as follows: U.S.-based families play a significant role in integrating new immigrants. The United States is home to many thriving and close-knit ethnic communities, such as the well-known Chinatown and Little Italy neighborhoods in New York City. Such communities inspire a sense of family and belonging, and the community plays a pivotal role in helping newcomers become established with resources to jobs, homes, financial assistance, and other support. Family-based immigrants are vital to business development. The familial and supportive environment of ethnic communities aid immigrants in investing in their new home country and in establishing new businesses and companies. Some of today’s most well-known American-based, multi-million-dollar companies were founded by immigrants, including Google, Intel, Yahoo!, and eBay. More than half of the new companies in Silicon Valley were founded by immigrants living in the United States on family-based visas. Ethnic communities have a positive and national impact on cities. Families of immigrants often reside in neighborhoods predominantly populated by families of the same nationality. These neighborhoods, or ethnic communities, provide model blueprints in successful revitalization for cities across the country. These close-knit neighborhoods demonstrate the support of residents in renovating rundown neighborhoods and establishing businesses and community centers and other improvements. In many cities across the United States, long-established ethnic communities have been used as a guide for revitalization efforts, and cities such as Boston, Detroit, and Baltimore have initiated programs to encourage more immigrants to settle in those localities. Family-based immigrants are successful. Statistically speaking, those migrating to the United States on family-based visas tend to achieve better socioeconomic status than those who migrate under a different type of visa, such as work-related. Family-based immigrants are consistently identified as the fastest advancing group in the labor market, benefitting not only the green card holders, but also local, state, and national economies. Migrating siblings become successful entrepreneurs. Studies have shown that brothers and sisters of lawful permanent residents who migrate to the United States find high rates of success in self-employment and higher earnings growth over time. Immigrant women contribute greatly to the care economy and workforce. Women immigrants often perform much of the unpaid child and health care in the home, including senior family members, contributing to the current labor force and raising the future one. Extended family in the home contributes to more immigrant women joining the workforce as well. If other members are able to handle the day-to-day household needs and care for other family members, more women tend to work and earn an income. In addition, those who migrate to the United States on family-based visas and receive green cards will have most of the same rights and freedoms as American-born citizens, including:- Living freely in the United States, with no criminal activity or breaking of laws that would remove you through deportation.
- Attending colleges and universities and earning a higher education degree.
- Obtaining employment in any field of your choosing, provided you meet the requirements. There may be limitations in positions that pose a security concern.
- Voting in local elections not requiring United States citizenship.
- Being protected under all local, state, and national laws.
- Traveling freely outside the United States and readmittance, as long as you are traveling with a current passport and permanent resident card.