Do You Need to Be a U.S. Citizen to Sponsor a Family Member?

On Behalf of

Sep 13, 2025

Many people wonder whether you must be a U.S. citizen to sponsor a family member to come live and work in the United States. In many cases, sponsorship by a citizen is required, but green card holders also have limited abilities to sponsor specific family members.

To get the answers you need and help with the process in Florida, reach out to our family-based immigration attorneys at Robert M. Bell today.

Both U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (also known as green card holders) can sponsor a family member for U.S. immigration. However, there are specific differences in the sponsorship process for these two categories.

U.S. Citizens

U.S. citizens have the privilege of sponsoring more categories of family members than green card holders. They can sponsor:

Spouse
Children (married and unmarried)
Parents
Siblings

Lawful Permanent Residents

Lawful permanent residents can only sponsor the following:

Spouse
Unmarried children

This is significantly more limited than that of U.S. citizens, but it can be essential to keep immediate families together.

Eligibility for Family-Based Immigration Sponsorship

There are specific requirements that both the sponsor and the immigrant must meet in the family-based immigration process. As the sponsor, you must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident. Additionally, you must be able to prove that you can financially support your family member and that you have a bona fide relationship with them, supported by documentation.

On the immigrant’s side, they must prove they are an immediate relative of the sponsor, such as a spouse, parent, or unmarried child under 21 years old. They must also be admissible to the U.S., meaning they do not have any criminal convictions or other factors that might prevent them from entering the country.

Timeline of Family-Based Immigration for U.S. Citizens vs. Green Card Holders

There is no waiting period for the immediate family members of U.S. citizens, as there are always available visa numbers for a citizen’s spouse, parents, or unmarried children under age 21. They must only wait out the application processing time, which averages more than 11 months in recent years.

However, other relatives sponsored by U.S. citizens and anyone sponsored by a permanent resident fall into “family preference” categories. Each category has annual numerical limitations on available family-sponsored visas. The waiting period for an available visa number depends on the relationship with the sponsor and the monthly Visa Bulletin published by the U.S. Department of State. However, you can expect to wait years for an available visa after your application is approved. This makes it imperative to begin the process as soon as possible.

Seek Help From Our Florida Family-Based Immigration Lawyers Now

Family-based immigration sponsorship is complicated. If you are in Florida and need assistance in sponsoring a family member for U.S. immigration, our experienced Florida family immigration lawyers at Robert M. Bell are here to help.