Cameron Miranda
If you are a US citizen, you can apply for a green card for your parents, allowing them to live and work legally in the country. To be eligible, you must be 21 or over and able to demonstrate that you are the child of your parents. You must also prove that you can financially support your parents by submitting Form I-864, Affidavit of Support. The application process typically takes around 10-12 months and requires a $420 filing fee. It is important to note that permanent residents (green card holders) cannot sponsor their parents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can petition for a green card for their parents? | A U.S. citizen aged 21 or above. |
| Who is eligible for a green card? | The immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, including the parent of a U.S. citizen. |
| What forms are required? | Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, and Form DS-260. |
| What is the filing fee? | $420 per parent for Form I-130. $625 for online filing and $675 for paper filing of the green card application. |
| What is the processing time? | 10 months to 12.5 months. |
| What documents are required? | Proof of U.S. citizenship, evidence of relationship with parents, birth or adoption certificates, marriage certificate, divorce decree, health records, and other supporting documents. |
| Can parents stay in the U.S. while waiting for a green card? | Generally, no, unless they have a separate visa that allows them to stay legally. |
| Can parents work while waiting for a green card? | Yes, they will receive a passport stamp upon arrival in the U.S., which proves their eligibility to work until they receive their green cards. |
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What You'll Learn
Eligibility requirements for parents
To petition for your parents to live in the United States as Green Card holders, you must be a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years old. Green Card holders (permanent residents) may not petition to bring parents to live permanently in the United States. If your name or your parent's name has changed, you must include proof of the legal name change. This may include a marriage certificate, divorce decree, adoption decree, or court judgment of name change.
The eligibility requirements for parent green cards are generally straightforward. For a U.S. citizen's parent to file for permanent residence in the U.S., they must be the "legal parent" of that citizen. This includes a father to a child born out of wedlock who was not legitimated before their 18th birthday.
To apply for a Green Card for your parents, you need to fill out Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and submit it to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with a petition filing fee of $420. You must submit a separate Form I-130 and filing fee for each parent you seek a Green Card for. USCIS will approve your I-130 petition once you prove that your parent is your parent. The required evidence to submit differs slightly depending on the parent for whom you are requesting permanent residence.
Once you have collected all the required documents to prove that you have an eligible relationship with your parent, you (the sponsor) will need to file Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, on behalf of your parent. Form I-864 shows that you are prepared to support the green card petitioner (your parent) financially so that they will not have to rely on the U.S. government for financial support once they become a green card holder. There is no filing fee required for Form I-864.
If your parents are in the United States and have applied to adjust to permanent resident status by filing Form I-485, they are eligible to apply for employment and travel authorization while their case is pending. Your parents should use Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, to apply for travel authorization.
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Application forms and supporting documents
To apply for a Green Card for your parents-in-law, you must be a US citizen and at least 21 years old. Green Card holders cannot petition to bring parents to live permanently in the United States.
The first step is to file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This form must be submitted with a petition filing fee of $420 for each parent. USCIS will approve the form once the parental relationship is proven.
If your parents-in-law are outside the US, after the approval of Form I-130, they will be notified to go to their local US consulate to complete the visa processing. They will receive a passport stamp upon arrival in the US, which will allow them to work until they receive their Green Cards.
If your parents-in-law are in the US, they may be eligible to file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, concurrently with Form I-130. This form requires two passport photos, a birth certificate, and a government-issued ID. The fees include a $1,140 filing fee and an $85 biometrics fee. They will also need to submit Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, which documents the results of a medical examination by a USCIS-approved doctor.
Additionally, you will need to file Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, to demonstrate that you can financially support your parents-in-law at 125% above the poverty line and that they will not rely on government assistance. This form can be filed with either USCIS or the Department of State, depending on whether your parents-in-law are in the US or abroad, and there is no filing fee.
Other supporting documents may be required, depending on the specific case. These could include proof of legal name changes, such as marriage certificates or court judgments, and proof of lawful status in the US.
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Application fees
To apply for a Green Card for your parents-in-law, you must be a US citizen and at least 21 years old. The application process generally takes about 12 months and requires $420 in filing fees per parent.
The first step in the process is to file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This form must be accompanied by a petition filing fee of $420 per parent. USCIS will approve Form I-130 once the relationship between the applicant and their parent is proven.
If your parent is outside the United States, they will receive a passport stamp upon arrival in the country. This stamp will prove that they are allowed to work in the US until they receive their Green Card. If your parent is in the US, they may be eligible to file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, concurrently with Form I-130. The fee for Form I-485 is $1,440.
In addition to the standard filing fees, there may be other expenses, such as immigration medical exam fees, legal help fees, translation costs, photo fees, and travel expenses to and from the embassy.
USCIS offers fee waivers to some low-income immigrants and exemptions based on humanitarian grounds, such as refugees, asylum seekers, and victims of domestic violence.
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Medical examinations and vaccinations
The CDC has specific criteria to determine which vaccines are mandatory for applicants. These include age-appropriate vaccines as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the general US population. The vaccine must also protect against a disease that has the potential to cause an outbreak or is in the process of being eliminated in the United States.
The medical examination and vaccination process is conducted by a civil surgeon, who reviews the applicant's vaccination records and medical history. The surgeon then assesses the applicant's needs, determines the required vaccines, and administers them if necessary. The civil surgeon completes Form I-693 (Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record) and provides it to the applicant in a sealed envelope to be submitted to USCIS.
It is important to note that as of March 11, 2025, the COVID-19 vaccination is no longer a requirement for immigration medical examinations. Additionally, some applicants who have previously undergone a medical examination abroad may not need to repeat the entire process when applying for adjustment.
The vaccination requirements and medical examination are essential to ensure that applicants are not inadmissible to the United States on health-related grounds. By following the CDC's instructions, civil surgeons play a crucial role in maintaining public health security during the immigration process.
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Interview preparation
If you are a US citizen who is 21 years of age or older, you can apply for a green card for your parents. This process will require an interview, which is usually the final stage of the application. Here is some general advice on how to prepare for this interview:
Documents
You will need to bring original documents to the interview, as the interviewing officer will compare them to the copies sent to USCIS. These documents include:
- Evidence of immigration status (US passport, Certificate of Naturalization, US birth certificate, or Green Card)
- Tax returns for the most recent year, including Forms W-2, 1099, and copies of recent pay stubs
- Forms I-94, evidencing that you maintained your non-immigrant status before filing for status adjustment
- Forms I-20 and evidence of school attendance, if applicable
- Court dispositions, if applicable
- Proof of a legal name change, if applicable (marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.)
- Proof of an eligible relationship with your parent(s)
- Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, to show that you can financially support your parent(s)
Interview Questions
The questions asked during the interview will be based on your family relationship with your sponsor. Some potential topics include:
- Whether you have a qualifying familial relationship with your sponsor
- Whether your sponsor is a citizen or lawful permanent resident
- Whether you have a criminal record or have violated any US immigration laws
- Whether you have any drug addictions or have been a drug dealer
Other Considerations
- Dress appropriately for the interview
- Arrive on time, allowing extra time to go through security
- Turn off your cell phone during the interview
- If you are not fluent in English, you can bring an interpreter
- You can also bring a lawyer, especially if you have had any issues with the law or immigration
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