This article was last updated July 14, 2026

Summary

Some people in the United States can apply to have their relatives join them in the United States. This guide lists some of the possible applications for family reunification. It does not cover every program for family-based immigration applications.

Eligibility for family reunification programs generally depends on: 

• The legal status of the person in the United States. 
• The relationship between the person in the United States and their relative. 

It is also important to understand:

• All of the programs require documentation and other evidence to prove that the person in the U.S. is eligible to apply to reunite with their relative.
• Some programs have specific deadlines or fees. Some people could apply to more than one program to help the same relative. 
• In many situations, there is no relevant program to help more distant relatives.

For each program, this guide links to other articles for more information.

Family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents in the United States

U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) can apply for some relatives to immigrate to the United States. In some situations, relatives will have to wait for many years before they can immigrate to the United States.

Lawful permanent residents (LPRs) are also called green card holders. If you are a green card holder, you can apply for your spouse and unmarried children to come to the United States.

U.S. citizens can apply for their spouses and children of any age or marital status. If you are a U.S. citizen over the age of 21, you can also apply for your siblings and parents.

You can file a form called I-130 to start this application process. More information about the I-130 process is here.

Finally, if you are a U.S. citizen, you can also apply for your fiance to move to the United States before you get married. You would file a form called the I-129F to start this process. More information about the fiance visa process is here.

Family members of refugees and asylees in the United States

Asylees

If you are someone with approved asylum status in the United States, you can apply to reunite with your spouse. You can also apply to reunite with your children, depending on the age and marital status of your children. You can do this by filling out a form called the I-730. There is a two-year deadline to apply for this program. More information about the I-730 process is here.

Refugees

If you were resettled in the United States as a refugee, you can apply to reunite with your spouses and unmarried children under 21 years old through an I-730 Form. However, in January 2025, President Trump issued an order pausing the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). This pause will effect your I-730 case for your relative. More information about the I-730 process is here, and more information about the current resettlement pause here.

There is also another program for family members of people with refugee or asylum status, as well as Afghan and Iraqi SIVs, called the “Priority 3” family reunification program. However, in January 2025, President Trump issued an order pausing the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). The Priority 3 program is not accepting new applications at this time. More information about the Priority 3 process is here, and more information about the current resettlement pause here.

Family members of Iraqi and Afghan SIVs in the United States

If you are an Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipient in the United States, you can apply for your spouse and children in some situations to join you. This is called “following to join” the SIV. Currently, the government has paused issuing visas to Afghan SIV applicants. More information is in this IRAP guide for relatives of SIV recipients.

Specific family reunification programs for refugees

Previously, the U.S. government allowed some people to join family members in the United States through specific U.S. refugee resettlement programs. However, in January 2025, President Trump issued an order pausing the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), and the government is not currently accepting or processing new applications in these programs. More information about the refugee resettlement pause is here.

Some of these special programs are described in more detail below.

Syrian and Iraqi refugees with relatives in the United States

Previously, an Iraqi or Syrian national with an approved I-130 (as described above) could also apply for refugee status in the United States through a special program. However, in January 2025, President Trump issued an order pausing the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Iraqi and Syrian Direct Access Programs are a part of USRAP, and therefore they are also paused. This means that at this time the U.S. government is not accepting new applications in this program.  

More information about the refugee resettlement pause is here.

More information about updates with the Direct Access Program for Iraqis and Syrians with approved I-130s is here.

Iranian religious minorities with relatives in the United States

People legally residing in the United States were used to be able to help their Iranian religious minority relatives apply for refugee resettlement under the Lautenberg Program. However, in January 2025, President Trump issued an order pausing the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). The Lautenberg Program is part of USRAP, and it is not accepting new applications at this time. More information about the Lautenberg Program is available here, and more information about the current resettlement pause here.

People from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras with relatives in the United States 

The Central American Minors (CAM) program was a legal pathway for children and other family members facing persecution or danger in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to reunite with parents who are lawfully present in the United States. However, in January 2025, President Trump issued an order pausing the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). The CAM Program is part of USRAP, and it is not accepting new applications at this time. More information about the CAM Program is here, and more information about the current resettlement pause here.

Asking for help

You or your relative may want to ask an immigration attorney for help with this process. Here are a few resources:

Help from IRAP

• Information about asking for help from IRAP is here.
• If you are in Jordan, you can ask for IRAP Jordan’s help using this form. If the form is closed, you can check back at a later date.

Help from other organizations

• A list of free immigration legal service providers in the United States is available here. These attorneys are not affiliated with IRAP.
• A list of private immigration attorneys in the United States is available here. Please note that private immigration attorneys may charge a fee for their services. These attorneys are not affiliated with IRAP.