Family-Based Green Cards in Florida: Petitions, Steps and Timelines

November 14, 2026 · By Ahmad Yakzan

U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) can sponsor certain relatives to immigrate. The process happens in stages. How long it takes depends mostly on how you are related and which country your relative is from. Below is a plain-English overview of how it works and what changed recently.

How a Family Petition Works

Step 1: The petition (Form I-130)

The sponsoring relative, called the petitioner, files Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with USCIS. This form proves that the family relationship is real. An approved petition does not give anyone legal status by itself. It only reserves a place in line.

Step 2: Waiting for a visa number

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens don't wait in a visa line. That group includes spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of citizens who are 21 or older. Every other relationship falls into a capped "preference category":

• F1: unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of citizens
• F2A: spouses and minor children of green card holders
• F2B: unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of green card holders
• F3: married sons and daughters of citizens
• F4: brothers and sisters of adult citizens

Your place in line is your priority date, which is usually the date USCIS received the I-130. The State Department publishes the Visa Bulletin each month to show which priority dates can move forward.

Step 3: Applying for the green card

Relatives who qualify to apply inside the U.S. file for adjustment of status (Form I-485). Relatives who don't qualify, or who live abroad, go through consular processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Spouses can find more on that path on our marriage visas page.

What's New This Month

• Big movement in November. The November 2026 Visa Bulletin moves F1, F2B, F3 and F4 forward by a full year for most countries. The F2A category advances by one month for most countries, moving from September 22, 2026, to October 22, 2026. Mexico advances from March 22, 2026, to April 22, 2026.
• Which chart to use. For November 2026, USCIS has authorized both family-sponsored and employment-based adjustment-of-status applicants to use the Dates for Filing charts. Because of that, some people can file their I-485 earlier than they expected.
• December is still pending. As of November 9, the December bulletin is still not out; it usually appears in the second or third week of November.
• Being able to file doesn't mean you qualify. Eligibility to adjust is narrower than eligibility to file. Most family preference beneficiaries who are inside the United States must have entered lawfully and maintained status to adjust here. In addition, USCIS issued a policy memo directing temporary visa holders seeking green cards to apply abroad, except in extraordinary circumstances. According to reporting, officers will not automatically reject in-country green-card applications.

A Note for Florida Families

Many households in Tampa and across Florida include people with different immigration statuses. Adjustment applicants in the Tampa Bay area are generally interviewed at the USCIS Tampa Field Office. If the relative is already in removal proceedings in a Florida immigration court, the green card application may have to go before an immigration judge instead of USCIS. Check this before you file anything.

Practical Steps While You Wait

• Keep copies of every form you file and every receipt notice you get.
• Report address changes to USCIS within 10 days.
• Check the Visa Bulletin each month for your category and country.
• Get legal advice before traveling abroad, because leaving the U.S. can affect some applications.
• Make sure any past immigration or criminal history is reviewed before you file.

You can learn more on our family immigration page. This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different, and immigration policy changes often. Talk to an attorney about your own situation.

If you or a loved one is planning to sponsor a family member or apply for a family-based green card, schedule a consultation with Ahmad Yakzan at American Dream Law Office PLLC. Call (656) 236-0205 or schedule online.