U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) have the ability to petition for their family members to obtain green card visas, allowing them to live and work in the United States. This process is a vital part of family reunification in U.S. immigration policy. Immediate relatives, such as spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens, are given priority and can receive visas without having to wait for a visa number to become available. For other family members, the process is categorized into preference groups, each with varying wait times based on the relationship to the petitioner and the availability of visas.