how does immediate family differ from extended family 
in contrast to the immediate family the extended family is a network of individuals with blood or legal ties this can include aunts uncles cousins grandparents grandchildren and married spouses in some cases extended family may exercise some rights if the immediate family cannot if a child loses one parent the grandparents may be able to exercise some custody rights such as legal visitation extended family members may also be eligible to adopt the children of parents who are deceased or otherwise unable to provide care who counts as immediate family for a green card a u s citizen can petition for members of their immediate family to receive permanent resident green card status for these purposes the immediate family is defined as one s spouse a child who is unmarried and less than 21 years old or a parent if the applying citizen is over 21 years old older children married children siblings half siblings and adoptive siblings are also eligible although they may face longer wait times 