Often times one family member immigrates to the United States, and obtains their lawful permanent residency. Rather than enforce family separation based on a strict interpretation of immigration laws, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services provides a means of immigration for other members of a lawful permanent resident's family. According to the BCIS, a lawful permanent resident is a foreign national who has been granted the privilege of permanently living and working in the United States.

Gaining LPR status based on a relative who is a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident involves several steps:

1. You need an BCIS approved immigrant visa petition I-130 Petition for Alien Relative sponsored by your relative.
   
   Your relative-sponsor or representative must submit the properly completed petition, including legal documentation of your relationship (to your sponsor). Get the Form
   
   
2. You must obtain an immigrant visa number from the Department of State. After the DOS determines an immigrant visa number is immediately available, you can apply to have a number assigned to you.
   
   Keep track of visa numbers with the Visa Bulletin.
   
   
3. When an immigrant visa number is available, the BCIS can finish processing your case. If you are outside the United States, you must go to the US Consulate* with jurisdiction over the area you reside, in order to complete your processing.