Introduction
Getting through the U.S. immigration system is like trying to get through a maze for families that are trying to be together again. While 4.36 million people are waiting for immigrant visas in different categories, below we go through all of the categories to understand the challenges of families who are waiting to reunite with their loved ones and how each of the categories can feel like a mountain to climb as families wait a long time for a visa to become available.
Define Family-Based Preference Categories
There are approximately 4.36 million individuals waiting for an immigrant visa to become available for them. Approximately 3.6 million of these individuals have a U.S. citizen relative or lawful permanent resident (LPR) relative sponsoring their application for an immigrant visa. Most of these applicants are being sponsored by relatives who fall into categories of Family Based Preference (FBP) for receipt of an immigrant visa.
The applicant needs to understand which of the four categories of preference that the sponsoring relative falls into and how long it will take for processing of the immigrant visa application to complete for that relative’s category. Each of the Family Based Preference categories are limited by Congress to a certain number of allocations per year, therefore individuals waiting for an available visa are forced to wait years for an available visa, and the applicants and their family members waiting for an available visa are left confused as to what is going on with their application for an immigrant visa.
This article will attempt to outline the categories of Family Based Preference in order to inform individuals that are applying for an immigrant visa as to where they stand in the process of application for an immigrant visa, and to better enable the applicants and their family members to plan for the lengthy process of application for residency in the United States.
Context and Importance in U.S. Immigration
Long-awaited family reunification can be delayed for years and even for decades. In order to facilitate family reunification for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) of the U.S. who are sponsoring relatives for admission to permanent resident status, these relatives are placed in categories within the preference system for family based preference categories. These categories comprise approximately 74% of permanent visas made available by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, for admission of relatives of U.S. citizens and LPRs. Thus, the basic family reunification principle embedded in these categories of applicants of permanent visas reflects a fundamental societal value, i.e. preservation of family ties. These family ties are considered essential to social stability and to the aliens’ successful integration into the life of American society.
While waiting for 2 decades to be reunited with family members is extremely difficult for family members waiting to be reunited with their loved ones, it also creates tremendous strain on family relationships. This strain can affect families trying to build a life together and establish roots in this country. Hence, the need for reform of family based preference categories as well as numerical limits on such categories of applicants.
Over 5.8 million individuals are waiting for preferential classification of admission to join immediate family members of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. Thus, advocating for reform of the family-based preference categories and numerical limits imposed on these categories of applicants is critical.
Historical Development of Preference Categories
Reuniting with family members who live abroad can be a complicated journey for families. Because of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, families have been reunited ever since. Thanks to the changes of the 1960s, families can be reunited with even more diversity. Changes to the law brought about by the 1965 Immigration Act, for example, removed national origin quotas. Families can now be reunited based on family ties, for example. However, subsequent reforms, for example the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, were supposed to clarify classifications and rules for families who are trying to be reunited. Instead, they have established limits on family reunification and have created further complications in the family based preference categories for this purpose of family reunification. Classifications and rules for families have changed many times over the years because of politics and the needs of society. Today there is much discussion of border control and the laws of the United States.
Key Characteristics and Variations
Understanding the arduous Family Immigration process and preferences in categories of Immigration granted to families can be a long and arduous journey for many families going through the Family Immigration process in America. There are several categories of family-based immigration. These are called Family-Based Preference Categories. Each Preference Category has its own eligibility requirements, as well as processing times and schedules for applications for immigration in these Preference Categories.
Processing time refers to the number of months it took USCIS to process applications for family members of U.S. citizens during the Family Immigration year. Notice that there is a huge difference in processing time between the F2A category and the F3 category. That is because the F2A category includes spouses of lawful permanent residents. Therefore, processing time for I-130 petitions for spouses of lawful permanent residents (F2A) is approximately 35 months. Family-based I-485 Applications (Adjustment of Status) are processed in approximately 8.2 months. Processing time for the F3 and F4 categories can even take longer. In fact, that is because of the numerical limits on family-based preference immigration as well as the per-country-caps in place for visa issuance. Thus, applicants from the very popular countries of Mexico and India can even experience longer processing times.
Please be advised that approval of a relative’s application for immigration to the U.S. does not automatically guarantee the approved relative(s) will receive a visa and/or green card for permanent residence. This is why, if you are trying to bring a family member to the U.S., you need to have an informed sense of the time it takes for processing of a relative’s application for immigration. In this sense, information with respect to the characteristics of the Family Based Preference Categories, as well as the processing time for each, will enable applicants to plan and establish a realistic time frame for a relative’s immigration and their own relocation to the U.S.
Conclusion
The Family-Based Preference Categories are another aspect of the U.S. immigration system that is often difficult for people to understand. The four categories list the groups of immigrants who can come to the U.S. to join their immediate family and their place in line to receive an immigrant visa. Currently, there are millions of individuals that are waiting for their immigrant visa which could mean many long years before they are reunited with their loved ones.
The four family-based preference categories for families of U.S. citizens and permanent residents have undergone significant change, and in many respects have evolved into four categories which remain today for families of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents waiting abroad for issuance of immigrant visas allowing them to join their families in the United States. In this article, we shall review current immigrant visa categories for families of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, set out current processing times for the four immigrant visa categories of family-based immigration, and identify considerable challenges to more efficient processing of immigrant visas for families in each of the four immigrant visa categories.
It is very important for families waiting for their loved ones who are going through the U.S. immigration system to be up to date with the current processing times for each of the four family-based preference categories, as well as exploring ways and means to remedy the enormous backlog of millions of people waiting for their respective immigrant visas. The families waiting for their loved ones to be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. can get quality legal help from Vasquez Law Firm, the premier U.S. Immigration Law Firm, representing clients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Moreover, we have very flexible payment plans, and we can provide legal representation to help families waiting for their loved ones to be reunited with them in the U.S. as soon as possible, by becoming informed as to the current U.S. Immigration laws, and by also working to have the necessary U.S. Immigration laws changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Family-Based Preference categories?
Family-Based Preference categories are classifications established by Congress that determine the allocation of immigrant visas for individuals sponsored by U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relatives.
How many individuals are currently waiting for an immigrant visa?
Approximately 4.36 million individuals are waiting for an immigrant visa to become available.
How many of those waiting have a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relative sponsoring them?
About 3.6 million of the individuals waiting for an immigrant visa have a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relative sponsoring their application.
Why is it important for applicants to understand the Family-Based Preference categories?
Understanding the Family-Based Preference categories helps applicants know which category their sponsoring relative falls into and how long the processing of their immigrant visa application may take.
Are there limits on the number of immigrant visas available each year?
Yes, each Family-Based Preference category is limited by Congress to a certain number of allocations per year, which can result in long waiting times for applicants.
What impact does the waiting period have on applicants and their families?
The lengthy waiting period can leave applicants and their family members confused about the status of their immigrant visa application and can complicate their planning for residency in the United States.
What is the purpose of the article regarding Family-Based Preference categories?
The article aims to outline the Family-Based Preference categories to inform individuals applying for an immigrant visa about their application status and to help them better plan for the lengthy residency application process.
List of Sources
- Define Family-Based Preference Categories
- July 2026 Visa Bulletin - Latest Update (https://boundless.com/blog/visa-bulletin)
- Immigration and Citizenship Data (https://uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies/immigration-and-citizenship-data)
- Family-Based Green Cards in 2026: What You Need to Know (https://mcbeanlaw.com/family-based-green-cards-in-2026-what-you-need-to-know-before-you-file)
- New Immigration Policy Likely To Block Many Family Immigrants (https://forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2025/11/25/new-immigration-policy-likely-to-block-many-family-immigrants)
- Context and Importance in U.S. Immigration
- Reuniting Families Act Helps Immigrants Who Play By the Rules - American Immigration Council (https://americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/reuniting-families-act-helps-immigrants-who-play-by-the-rules)
- What will 2026 bring for US migration policy? | Brookings (https://brookings.edu/articles/what-will-2026-bring-for-us-migration-policy)
- Family Reunification Is the Bedrock of U.S. Immigration Policy (https://americanprogress.org/article/family-reunification-bedrock-u-s-immigration-policy)
- New Immigration Policy Likely To Block Many Family Immigrants (https://forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2025/11/25/new-immigration-policy-likely-to-block-many-family-immigrants)
- Historical Development of Preference Categories
- Family-Based Immigration: Overview | History | Research Starters | EBSCO Research (https://ebsco.com/research-starters/history/family-based-immigration-overview)
- New Immigration Policy Likely To Block Many Family Immigrants (https://forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2025/11/25/new-immigration-policy-likely-to-block-many-family-immigrants)
- Family Reunification in 2025: Policy Shifts Affecting Spouses and Children (https://shanpottslaw.com/post/family-reunification-in-2025-policy-shifts-affecting-spouses-and-children)
- U.S. Family-Based Immigration Policy (https://congress.gov/crs-product/R43145)
- Reuniting Families Act of 2024: Bill Summary - National Immigration Forum (https://forumtogether.org/article/reuniting-families-act-of-2024)
- Key Characteristics and Variations
- 2026 Guide to Family-Based Immigration Petitions | Vasquez Law Firm | Vasquez Law Firm (https://vasquezlawnc.com/blog/family-immigration-petitions-2026-20260623-1509)
- 17 Green Card Wait Time Statistics Every Applicant Should Know in 2026 (https://tryalma.com/blog/green-card-wait-time-statistics)
- Backlogs in Family-Based Immigration: Shedding Light on the Numbers | Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) (https://cliniclegal.org/resources/family-based-immigrant-law/backlogs-family-based-immigration-shedding-light-numbers)
- Family-Based Immigration Backlogs: 5 Things to Know - Fwd.us (https://fwd.us/news/family-based-immigration-backlogs)
