USA Family Reunion Visa
millions of families already settled across the country.
USA Family Reunion Visa
Reuniting Families in America
The United States of America has one of the largest Indian diasporas in the world, with millions of families already settled across the country. The U.S. government recognizes the importance of keeping families together and therefore offers the Family Reunion Visa (Family-Based Immigration Program).
This pathway allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) to sponsor their close relatives to live with them permanently in the United States. However, the U.S. immigration system is complex, slow-moving, and highly scrutinized, especially for Indian applicants, where cases are checked thoroughly for relationship genuineness and financial eligibility.
At SWICS Pvt. Ltd., with over 22 years of expertise in global immigration consulting, we guide applicants step-by-step through this complex process. Under the counseling expertise of Er. JP Singh (Certified Education Agent Counsellor) and the legal support of Advocate Trimaandeep Singh, we prepare legally compliant, strong, and embassy-proof applications, ensuring families successfully reunite in the U.S.
Categories of USA Family Reunion Visa
U.S. family-based visas are divided into two major categories:
Immediate Relative (IR) Visas
These visas are for close relatives of U.S. citizens. There are no annual limits on these visas. Categories include:
- IR-1: Spouse of a U.S. citizen
- IR-2: Unmarried child (under 21) of a U.S. citizen
- IR-3/IR-4: Orphan adopted abroad or to be adopted in the U.S.
- IR-5: Parent of a U.S. citizen (petitioner must be at least 21 years old)
Family Preference (F) Visas
These are for other eligible relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Annual caps apply, leading to long waiting times (sometimes 10+ years for Indians). Categories include:
- F1: Unmarried sons/daughters (21+) of U.S. citizens
- F2A: Spouses and minor children of Green Card holders
- F2B: Unmarried adult sons/daughters of Green Card holders
- F3: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens
- F4: Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be at least 21 years old (for sponsoring parents or siblings).
- Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
- Must provide proof of financial stability:
- Must meet the Minimum Income Requirement (125% of U.S. Poverty Guidelines).
- Must sign an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864).
- Must prove genuine family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, adoption papers).
- Must pass medical examinations (by authorized U.S. panel physicians).
- Must pass police clearance and background checks.
- Must not be inadmissible due to criminal or immigration violations.
Required Documents
- U.S. passport, birth certificate, or Green Card
- Affidavit of Support (I-864)
- Proof of financial income (tax returns, pay stubs, employment letter)
- Valid passport
- Birth/marriage/adoption certificates
- Medical exam results (Form I-693)
- Police clearance certificate
- Visa application forms (DS-260 for immigrant visas)
Step-by-Step Process
- Petition Filing – Sponsor files Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- Petition Approval – USCIS reviews and approves the petition.
- NVC Processing – National Visa Center requests further documents, fees, and DS-260 visa form.
- Embassy Submission – Case is forwarded to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in India.
- Interview at U.S. Embassy (New Delhi/Mumbai) –Applicant must appear with all documents and proofs of relationship.
- Visa Issuance – If approved, immigrant visa is stamped, and applicant can travel to the U.S.
- Green Card Issuance – Upon arrival, the applicant receives lawful permanent resident status (Green Card).
Processing Time
- Immediate Relative (IR) visas – 12–18 months on average.
- Family Preference visas (F categories) – 3–15 years (depending on category and visa bulletin priority dates).
Benefits of USA Family Reunion Visa
• Allows family members to live, work, and study in the U.S. permanently.
• Provides a pathway to U.S. citizenship (after 5 years of residency).
• Access to world-class healthcare, education, and social benefits.
• Strong protection of family unity rights under U.S. law.
Challenges & Risks
• Extremely long waiting times for Indian applicants in the F3 and F4 categories.
• Strict embassy scrutiny of documents, especially for marriage and relationship verification.
• Financial eligibility is a major challenge for many sponsors.
• High refusal risk if documents are incomplete or relationship is not convincingly established.
Why Choose SWICS Pvt. Ltd.?
- 22+ years of experience in family reunion cases for North America.
- Er. JP Singh provides expert counseling, eligibility checks, and clear strategies.
- Advocate Trimaandeep Singh ensures all petitions, affidavits, and legal documents are compliant with U.S. immigration law.
- Specialized support for Indian applicants, especially where embassy scrutiny is high.
- End-to-end solutions: from petition filing, NVC documentation, embassy interview preparation, to appeals in case of refusal.
FAQ – USA Family Reunion Visa
U.S. citizens can sponsor spouses, children, parents, and siblings. Green Card holders can sponsor spouses and unmarried children.
No, only U.S. citizens aged 21+ can sponsor parents.
For Indian applicants, F4 sibling visas can take 12–15 years due to backlog.
It is a legally binding financial guarantee that the sponsor will support the family member and prevent them from becoming a public charge.
Yes, all applicants must undergo a medical exam by a U.S.-approved doctor.
Yes, Indian applicants must submit police clearance certificates from all places of residence.
Yes, U.S. immigration fully recognizes same-sex marriages.
Yes, U.S. citizens can (F3 category), but waiting time is long (10+ years).
Yes, once they receive their Green Card, they can live and work freely.
For Family Preference categories, applicants must wait until their priority date is current on the Visa Bulletin.
Yes, interviews are mandatory, where officers verify documents and relationship genuineness.
SWICS, with Advocate Trimaandeep Singh, assists with appeals, motions to reopen, or re-filing.
Yes, but separate petitions (I-130) must be filed for each parent.
Only if they hold another valid visa; the Family Reunion process does not grant travel rights until approved.
Sometimes, if relationship documents are not sufficient, the embassy may ask for DNA testing.
Yes, except for Immediate Relatives. Family Preference visas have annual caps.
They can only study once they enter the U.S. with Green Card status.
Yes, if multiple sponsors are eligible, this can reduce waiting times in some cases.
They are eligible for healthcare benefits after receiving Green Card, but private insurance is often required initially.
Because we combine practical counseling (Er. JP Singh) and legal precision (Advocate Trimaandeep Singh) to prepare applications that are strong, appeal-proof, and compliant with U.S. law, giving Indian applicants a much higher chance of success.
