Preferences are categories of persons who are eligible to immigrate to the United States because they are being petitioned by a relative who is a US citizen or permanent resident.

 

  • The First preference is for unmarried sons and daughters over 21 years of age, of US citizens.
  • The 2A preference is for spouses and unmarried sons and daughters under 21 years of age of permanent residents.
  • The 2B preference is for unmarried sons and daughters 21 years of age or older of permanent residents.
  • The 3rd preference is for married sons and daughters of US citizens.
  • And the 4th preference is for brothers and sisters of US citizens where the petitioning citizen is at least 21 years of age. What all persons in the family-based preference categories have in common, is that only a limited number of of persons may immigrate in any one preference and from any one country, each year.