Green Cards for Parents of US Citizens
How You Can Qualify

Green cards for parents may be sponsored by their adult U.S. citizen sons and daughters. Parents of US citizens who are 21 years of age or older are considered “immediate relatives” and are not subject to numerical immigration quotas.

Green cards for parents only takes as long as needed for the paperwork to move through the bureaucracy.  If your parents entered the United States lawfully, they may adjust their status to permanent residents without having to leave the U.S.  This is true even if your parents have overstayed their immigration status.

However, if you parents entered the United States without inspection, they will have to return to their country in order to be interviewed for green cards.  In addition, they may need to get I-601A unlawful presence waivers.

Green Cards for Parents Lawfully Residing in the U.S.

If your parents have entered the US lawfully and are currently living in the US then the process takes about 12 months once you submit:

• An I-130 Visa Petition for each parent
• Proof of your US Citizenship
• Evidence that they are your parents (Your birth certificate, their marriage certificate, etc.)

At the same time you submit these documents, each parent should submit an I-485 application in order for adjust their status to lawful permanent resident. Simultaneously, they should apply for work permits (EADs) and international travel permits, also called advance paroles.

You will need to submit an affidavit of support for each parent.

Client Reviews

Once they are successfully fingerprinted and have completed their medical examinations, they will receive work permits (aka Employment Authorization Documents or EADs) and travel permits (aka Advance Paroles) in about 6 months. A few months later they will receive an interview at their local USCIS office and, if approved, they will be issued green cards.

If your parents have entered the US unlawfully the process of getting them green cards becomes much more complex. In these cases you should consult an experienced immigration attorney before attempting to petition for a visa or submitting any applications to the government.

Green Cards for Parents Living Abroad

If your parents are living abroad at the time you petition, the process will take 12-18 months before they receive green cards. To begin, you should submit:

• Form I-130 for each of your parents
• Proof of your US citizenship
• Evidence that you are at least 21 years of age
• Evidence that they are your parents (Your birth certificate, their marriage certificate, etc.)

It takes the USCIS a few months to review your petitions and, once approved, they will forward them to the National Visa Center (NVC) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The NVC will then communicate directly with your parents concerning what else will be needed for their immigrant visa interviews. These interviews will take place at the US Embassy or Consulate in their home country.

Once all necessary paperwork has been submitted and filing fees received, you will need to submit an affidavit of support for each parent. The NVC will then forward these documents to the appropriate Embassy/Consulate and your parents will be interviewed abroad. If approved, your parents will be given 6 months to come to the United States. When they arrive at a US airport, a secondary inspection will be necessary so a Customs and Border Protection agent can review their paperwork. If everything has been done properly, their passports will be stamped showing that they have been admitted as lawful permanent residents.

Green Cards for Parents – Additional Resources

• How to Make an Expedite Request (USCIS)
• Green Cards for Immediate Relatives of US Citizens (USCIS)
• Bringing Parents to Live in the United States as Permanent Residents (USCIS)
• Application to Adjust Status (USCIS)
• Petition for Alien Relative: Form I-130 (USCIS)
• USCIS International Immigration Offices (USCIS)

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