Does anyone know if a person can petition for a relative ............?

Yes you can. You can however petition for only immediate family members. Mom, Dad, Sisters and Brothers or a Husband or Wife. It's still a slow process. Your relative gets put into a new clification ( IR). or Immediate Relative. Then they don't have to wait in a long line of people without family ties in the U.S. I does make things faster however not a lot. Call the Immigration office nearest your home and they can tell you how to apply. Good luck.