[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 22, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 22CFR42.21]

[Page 225]
 
                       TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS
 
                     CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 
PART 42--VISAS: DOCUMENTATION OF IMMIGRANTS UNDER THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT, AS AMENDED--Table of Contents
 
 Subpart C--Immigrants Not Subject to Numerical Limitations of INA 201 
                                 and 202
 
Sec. 42.21  Immediate relatives.

    Source: 56 FR 49676, Oct. 1, 1991, unless otherwise noted.


    (a) Entitlement to status. An alien who is a spouse or child of a 
United States citizen, or a parent of a U.S. citizen at least 21 years 
of age, shall be classified as an immediate relative under INA 201(b) if 
the consular officer has received from INS an approved Petition to 
Classify Status of Alien Relative for Issuance of an Immigrant Visa, 
filed on the alien's behalf by the U.S. citizen and approved in 
accordance with INA 204, and the officer is satisfied that the alien has 
the relationship claimed in the petition. An immediate relative shall be 
documented as such unless the U.S. citizen refuses to file the required 
petition, or unless the immediate relative is also a special immigrant 
under INA 101(a)(27) (A) or (B) and not subject to any numerical 
limitation.
    (b) Spouse of a deceased U.S. citizen. The spouse of a deceased U.S. 
citizen, and each child of the spouse, will be entitled to immediate 
relative status after the date of the citizen's death provided the 
spouse or child meets the criteria of INA 201(b)(2)(A)(i) or of section 
423(a)(1) of Public Law 107-56 (USA Patriot Act) and the Consular 
Officer has received an approved petition from the INS which accords 
such status, or official notification of such approval, and the Consular 
Officer is satisfied that the alien meets those criteria.
    (c) Child of a U.S. citizen victim of terrorism. The child of a U.S. 
citizen slain in the terrorist actions of September 11, 2001, shall 
retain the status of an immediate relative child (regardless of changes 
in age or marital status) if the child files a petition for such status 
within two years of the citizen's death pursuant to section 423(a)(2) of 
Public Law 107-56, and the consular officer has received an approved 
petition according such status or official notification of such 
approval.

[56 FR 49676, Oct. 1, 1991, as amended at 64 FR 55419, Oct. 13, 1999; 67 
FR 1415, Jan. 11, 2002]