Unmarried Children

You can sponsor your foreign born child for lawful permanent residence (i.e. a green card) if he/she is your biological child, stepchild, or adopted child. Both U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can sponsor unmarried children to immigrate to the United States. If you are sponsoring a child over the age of 21, his/her children who are unmarried and under the age of 21 can also immigrate to the United States with your child.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• The stepparent-stepchild relationship must be formed prior to the child’s 18th birthday to be considered a child under U.S. immigration law. The immigrant visa petition can be filed after the child’s 18th birthday.
• The child must be adopted prior to his/her 16th birthday to be considered a child under U.S. immigration law. A limited exception applies when siblings are adopted. In such circumstances, if a child is adopted prior to his/her 16th birthday, his/her siblings will also be considered a child under U.S. immigration law so as he/she is under the age of 18 at the time of the adoption.