How to Get a Green Card for Parents

U.S. citizens over 21 years of age can sponsor their parents for a green card (permanent residency). A parent is regarded as an immediate relative of the U.S. citizen and therefore there are no restrictions on the number of applications or green cards issued for parents. You may apply for the green card from outside the U.S. (consular processing) or from within (adjustment of status).

Steps to Get a Green Card for Parents

If the parents live in the U.S.:

1Prepare applicants' (parents) documents:

Copy of birth certificate of the applicants (parents)
Copy of parents' marriage certificate (if filing for both parents)
Copy of parent's I-94 card - both sides
Copy of parent's passport (entire copy)
Copy of parent's U.S. visa

2Prepare sponsor's (U.S. citizen) documents:

Copy of Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate
Copy of the U.S. passport
Copy of sponsor's birth certificate
Financial documents:

Proof of income (last few salary stubs)
Last few tax returns
Proof of employment (W2 forms)
Letter of employment
Bank statements
Savings statements
401K certificate
Other documents demonstrating the sponsor’s financial strength

3The sponsor files Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and Form I-485, Application to Adjust Status, with USCIS.

Include the supporting documents listed in steps 1 and 2 with the application and fees:

$420 fee per applicant for Form I-130
$985 fee per applicant for Form I-485
$85 fee per applicant for biometrics

File one form per applicant. These applications can be filed at the same time. This process is known as concurrent filing.

4The applicants attend a green card interview.

5If the interview is successful, the applicants will be granted permanent residence and receive a green card in the mail.

If the parents live outside the U.S.:

1Prepare applicants' (parents) documents:

Copy of birth certificate of the applicants (parents)
Copy of parents' marriage certificate (if filing for both parents)
Copy of parent's I-94 card - both sides
Copy of parent's passport (entire copy)
Copy of parent's U.S. visa

2Prepare sponsor's (U.S. citizen) documents:

Copy of Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate
Copy of the U.S. passport
Copy of sponsor's birth certificate
Financial documents:

Proof of income (last few salary stubs)
Last few tax returns
Proof of employment (W2 forms)
Letter of employment
Bank statements
Savings statements
401K certificate
Other documents demonstrating the sponsor's financial strength

3Complete Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and file for both parents separately.

Application should be filed and submitted with USCIS. At present, Form I-130 is a paper application only.

4Complete and mail the I-130 application along with a fee of $420.

5If the I-130 is approved, the applicants will be informed and will need to attend the green card interview at the nearest U.S. consulate.

6Once interview is scheduled, the applicants need to take a medical exam.

7If the interview is successful, the applicants will be granted immigration visas and may travel to the U.S. At their arrival in U.S., they will get the stamp at the port of entry (POE) by an immigration officer. The green card will be delivered by mail.

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Before you continue, please understand that:

How to Get a Green Card for Parents

Steps to Get a Green Card for Parents

If the parents live in the U.S.:

1Prepare applicants' (parents) documents:

2Prepare sponsor's (U.S. citizen) documents:

3The sponsor files Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and Form I-485, Application to Adjust Status, with USCIS.

4The applicants attend a green card interview.

5If the interview is successful, the applicants will be granted permanent residence and receive a green card in the mail.

If the parents live outside the U.S.:

1Prepare applicants' (parents) documents:

2Prepare sponsor's (U.S. citizen) documents:

3Complete Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and file for both parents separately.

4Complete and mail the I-130 application along with a fee of $420.

5If the I-130 is approved, the applicants will be informed and will need to attend the green card interview at the nearest U.S. consulate.

6Once interview is scheduled, the applicants need to take a medical exam.

7If the interview is successful, the applicants will be granted immigration visas and may travel to the U.S. At their arrival in U.S., they will get the stamp at the port of entry (POE) by an immigration officer. The green card will be delivered by mail.

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