Scope and purpose
A qualifying U.S. citizen or permanent resident uses this petition to establish an eligible family relationship. Approval does not itself grant permanent residence, permission to work or admission to the United States.
Related rules and practical context
Visa availability, the petitioner’s status and the beneficiary’s eligibility determine the next stage. Form I-485 concerns adjustment inside the United States; consular processing is a different route. A genuine marriage must still be established in a spousal case.