Immediate relatives are the closest family members, which usually include parents, spouses, and children, sometimes including siblings and grandparents. The relationships are created via blood, adoption, and marriage.
The scope of immediate relatives is varied in different laws and regulations, and the difference has a deep influence on their duty and rights.
In immigration law, the scope of immediate relatives of U.S citizens applying for family-based immigrant visas is broader than lawful permanent residents. For U.S. citizens, their immediate relatives are spouses, children, parents, and siblings. For permanent residents, immediate relatives are spouses and unmarried children. The preference and priority for processing Green Cards will also be influenced.
Under FINRA regulations, the restricted individuals’ immediate families are their parents, or subsidiaries of them or their parents. They will be restricted to certain financial transactions (e.g., stock transactions).
[Last updated in April of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]
USCIS, www.uscis.gov Bureau of Consular Affairs , http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1306.html