A lawful permanent resident (LPR) or U.S. citizen (USC) may petition to bring certain relatives to the U.S. LPRs may generally petition for spouses, and for unmarried sons and daughters (who include step-children, adoptees, and orphans). USCs may generally petition for spouses, parents, siblings, and sons and daughters.

The process involves two steps. The first step is a petition filed with USCIS in the foreign national's behalf. The second step is the foreign national's application for permanent residence, which may be filed either at a U.S. consulate abroad or at the USCIS in the U.S. if the foreign national is lawfully present here. Sometimes, the first and second steps may be filed together at USCIS.