There is no numerical restriction on the number of immediate relatives permitted to immigrate each year to the United States. Under the Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986, when an alien spouse of a citizen or permanent resident is admitted to permanent residence at any time prior to the second anniversary of the couple’s marriage, the alien will be granted residence subject to review and possible loss of residence after two years if the marriage is not still intact.
Spouses and children of aliens who obtained green card as immediate relatives of citizens cannot immigrate as derivative immigrants. They must apply separately on their own under a different category. For example, a minor child of a parent who is being sponsored by a USC daughter could be sponsored separately by the parent after she obtains her green card or be sponsored directly as the sibling of the USC.