Family-based immigration is an immigrant visa classification. It allows a foreign national to become a lawful permanent resident through a relative who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

Both the immigrant and the U.S. citizen or permanent resident must successfully complete the immigration process to allow the foreign national to come to live and work permanently in the U.S. The U.S. citizen or permanent resident must sponsor the foreign national, proving that he or she has enough income or assets to support the immigrant when he or she enters the U.S.

The State Department has released its Visa Bulletin for July 2008. This monthly bulletin provides a summary of the availability of immigrant visas. Immigrant visas give foreign individuals the privilege of living and working in the United States. While the process of obtaining an immigration visa is fairly easy, the wait can be unbearable.

The process begins when an American relative or employer files a petition with USCIS for the individual who wants to immigrate. Once the petition is approved, it is placed in chronological order according to the date the petition was filed. This date is known as the priority date. Priority dates are categorized based on a preference system. Once a visa number becomes available, it is issued to the beneficiary of the visa who then begins the process of becoming a U.S. permanent resident.

It's shocking to learn how long it can take for a visa number to be issued. Let's look at the numbers from this month's bulletin. U.S.

citizens filing a petition for a brother or sister in the Philippines should be prepared for a long wait. The State Department is currently issuing visas in this category with a priority date of March 8, 1986 or earlier. If you're a lawful permanent resident who filed a petition for your spouse or children, the State Department is now issuing visa numbers to those with priority dates prior to August 1, 2003. Except, that is, in Mexico, where there are no visa numbers currently available for this category. The employment-based petitions fair a little bit better, unless you're a skilled worker, professional or other worker. There are currently no visa numbers currently available for this third preference category.