Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay my filing fees with a credit card?

You may pay your filing fee and biometric services fee, if applicable, with a credit card issued by a U.S. bank. If you are filing by mail, file your application, petition, or request with a USCIS lockbox or with a USCIS service center.

There is no additional cost to file by credit card. No credit card issued by a foreign bank is accepted. 

What relatives may I petition?

As a U.S. Citizen, you may petition the following relatives:

• Spouse

• Children (unmarried and under 21)

• Sons and daughters (married and/or 21 or over)

• Parents, if you are 21 or over.

• Siblings, if you are 21 or over

Can I petition a family member as a green card holder?

As a Green Card holder (permanent resident), you may petition for certain family members to immigrate to the United States as permanent residents. You may petition for the following family members:

• Spouse (husband or wife) 

• Unmarried children under 21

• Unmarried son or daughter of any age 

Can I petition a relative who lives outside of the United States?

• Yes, you can petition for a relative living outside of United States. Your petition will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC will forward your petition to the appropriate U.S. consulate when a visa becomes available and your relative will be notified about how to proceed. This process is referred to as Consular Processing.

Can I change my address if I move after I filed my petition?

We strongly encourage you to submit your change of address to USCIS through a USCIS online account. Updating your address using an online account helps to ensure you receive all correspondence and benefits from us in a timely manner and avoid possible delays related to your case. If you do not have a USCIS online account, you may create one by following the instructions on our How to Create a USCIS Online Account page

How long does it take to process a petition?

You can check the average time it takes for a particular USCIS office to process a Form I-485. Go to our USCIS Processing Time Information page for more information.

If you applied for an employment-based Green Card, you can also go to our Immigration and Citizenship Data and Questions & Answers: Pending Employment-Based Form I-485 Inventory pages for more information.