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Policy Manual
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Book outline for Policy Manual
  • Policy Manual
    • Search
    • Updates
    • Table of Contents
    • Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures
    • Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants
    • Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole
    • Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees
    • Volume 5 - Adoptions
    • Volume 6 - Immigrants
      • Part A - Immigrant Policies and Procedures
      • Part B - Family-Based Immigrants
        • Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background
        • Chapter 2 - Principles Common to Family-Based Petitions [Reserved]
        • Chapter 3 - Filing
        • Chapter 4 - Documentation and Evidence for Family-Based Petitions [Reserved]
        • Chapter 5 - Adjudication of Family-Based Petitions [Reserved]
        • Chapter 6 - Post-Adjudication of Family-Based Petitions [Reserved]
        • Chapter 7 - Spouses [Reserved]
        • Chapter 8 - Children, Sons, and Daughters
        • Chapter 9 - Parents of U.S. Citizens [Reserved]
        • Chapter 10 - Siblings of U.S. Citizens [Reserved]
      • Part C - Adam Walsh Act
      • Part D - Surviving Relatives
      • Part E - Employment-Based Immigration
      • Part F - Employment-Based Classifications
      • Part G - Investors
      • Part H - Designated and Special Immigrants
      • Part I - Family-Based Conditional Permanent Residents
      • Part J - Special Immigrant Juveniles
      • Part K - CNMI Resident Status
    • Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status
    • Volume 8 - Admissibility
    • Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief
    • Volume 10 - Employment Authorization
    • Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents
    • Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Policy Manual
  3. Volume 6 - Immigrants
  4. Part B - Family-Based Immigrants

Part B - Family-Based Immigrants

Content navigation tabs
  • Guidance
  • Resources (10)
  • Appendices (0)
  • Updates (5)
  • History (0)

In May 2020, USCIS retired its Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM), a collection of our immigration policies and procedures.

In May 2020, USCIS retired its Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM), a collection of our immigration policies and procedures. We are working quickly to update and incorporate all of the AFM content into the USCIS Policy Manual, the agency’s centralized online repository for immigration policies. Until then, we have moved any remaining AFM content to its corresponding Policy Manual Part. To the extent that a provision in the Policy Manual conflicts with remaining AFM content or Policy Memoranda, the updated information in the Policy Manual prevails. If you have questions or concerns about any discrepancies among these resources, contact PolicyFeedback@uscis.dhs.gov.

AFM Chapter 21 - Family-based Petitions and Applications (External) (PDF, 1.82 MB)

Resources

Legal Authorities

INA 201 - Worldwide level of immigration

INA 202 - Numerical limitations on individual foreign states

INA 203 - Allocation of immigrant visas

INA 204, 8 CFR 204 - Procedure for granting immigrant status

Forms

G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative

I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion

I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

Other Materials

How to Use the USCIS Policy Manual Website (PDF, 2.99 MB)

Appendices

No appendices available at this time.

Updates

POLICY ALERT - Assisted Reproductive Technology and In-Wedlock Determinations for Immigration and Citizenship Purposes

August 05, 2021

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the determination of whether a child born outside the United States, including a child born through Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), is considered born “in wedlock.”

Read More
Affected Sections

6 USCIS-PM B.8 - Chapter 8 - Children, Sons, and Daughters

12 USCIS-PM H.2 - Chapter 2 - Definition of Child and Residence for Citizenship and Naturalization

12 USCIS-PM H.3 - Chapter 3 - U.S. Citizens at Birth (INA 301 and 309)

12 USCIS-PM H.4 - Chapter 4 - Automatic Acquisition of Citizenship after Birth (INA 320)

12 USCIS-PM H.5 - Chapter 5 - Child Residing Outside of the United States (INA 322)

Technical Update - Replacing the Term “Alien”

May 11, 2021

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “alien” with “noncitizen” or other appropriate terms throughout the Policy Manual where possible, as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

Technical Update - Moving the Adjudicator’s Field Manual Content into the USCIS Policy Manual

May 21, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating and incorporating relevant Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) content into the USCIS Policy Manual. As that process is ongoing, USCIS has moved any remaining AFM content to its corresponding USCIS Policy Manual Part, in PDF format, until relevant AFM content has been properly incorporated into the USCIS Policy Manual. To the extent that a provision in the USCIS Policy Manual conflicts with remaining AFM content or Policy Memoranda, the updated information in the USCIS Policy Manual prevails. To find remaining AFM content, see the crosswalk (PDF, 350.49 KB) between the AFM and the Policy Manual.

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

3 USCIS-PM - Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole

4 USCIS-PM - Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees

5 USCIS-PM - Volume 5 - Adoptions

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

POLICY ALERT - Accepting Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130) Abroad

January 31, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address the limited circumstances in which USCIS has delegated authority to the U.S. Department of State to accept and adjudicate the Form I-130 filed abroad at U.S. embassies and consulates. This guidance becomes effective February 1, 2020.

Read More
Affected Sections

6 USCIS-PM B.3 - Chapter 3 - Filing

Technical Update - Replacing the Term “Foreign National”

October 08, 2019

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “foreign national” with “alien” throughout the Policy Manual as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

Version History

No historical versions available.

0
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  • Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background
  • Chapter 2 - Principles Common to Family-Based Petitions [Reserved]
  • Chapter 3 - Filing
  • Chapter 4 - Documentation and Evidence for Family-Based Petitions [Reserved]
  • Chapter 5 - Adjudication of Family-Based Petitions [Reserved]
  • Chapter 6 - Post-Adjudication of Family-Based Petitions [Reserved]
  • Chapter 7 - Spouses [Reserved]
  • Chapter 8 - Children, Sons, and Daughters
  • Chapter 9 - Parents of U.S. Citizens [Reserved]
  • Chapter 10 - Siblings of U.S. Citizens [Reserved]
Current as of March 22, 2023
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