US citizens 21 or older can apply to get their parents a green card, making them lawful permanent residents in the US.
There’s no limit regarding how many parent green cards the USCIS can issue each year, and the process takes around 12 -18 months.
We’ll cover how to get a green card for your parents in eight steps and break down each one in the most straightforward manner possible.
Related: How to Petition a Family Member for a Green Card
While it may seem complicated, we’ll break down the steps you must follow to get a green card for your parents into eight easy-to-digest sections:
If your parents want to get a US green card, they must be admissible and eligible. Luckily, the eligibility requirements are pretty straightforward.
For a citizen’s parent to get a green card, they must be a legal parent of the citizen. A legal parent includes:
However, even eligible parents may not be admissible.
There are four primary factors that might make your otherwise eligible parent inadmissible to the US:
Once you’ve confirmed that your parents are admissible and eligible, you’ll need to complete an immigration petition for them: Form I-130. After filling out the form, you’ll submit it to the USCIS (along with a filing fee of $535).
If you’re petitioning for two parents, you’ll need to fill out Form I-130 twice and pay the filing
Note: Filing Form I-130 doesn’t give your parent's status; there are still additional steps required.
For the USCIS to approve Form I-130, you’ll have to prove your relationship to your parents.
In addition, if you were born outside the US, you’ll need a copy of your US passport or Certificate of Naturalization.
Petitioning for an adoptive parent, step-parent, or a father who wasn’t married to your mother at birth will require additional documentation.
Next, there’s another form you’ll have to file: Form I-864. This form shows that you agree to support your parents financially and that they will not seek government assistance for financial support.
You can file this form from within the US by submitting it to the USCIS or by submitting it to the DOS from outside the US.
Either way, there’s no fee required to file Form I-864.
Next, your parents will need to prepare their applications for their green cards. There are two possibilities for applying, depending on where your parents currently live.
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If your parents are currently in the US, they’ll file for Adjustment of Status by submitting Form I-485. They can file this form together with Form I-130 or any time afterward.
When filed together, the processing time for their green cards will typically be significantly shorter than other filing methods. Form I-485 requires two passport photos, a birth certificate, and a government-issued form of ID. There is a filing fee of $1140 and a biometrics fee of $85.
If your parents currently live outside the US, they need to submit for permanent residence through a process called consular processing through a US consulate or embassy. After waiting for USCIS approval on Form I-130, their application will continue on to the National Visa Center (NVC) and send your parent's confirmation.
Once a visa number becomes available, your parents will need to fill out Form DS-261. Upon approval, they’ll pay a $445 fee and fill out one more form: Form DS-260.
Related: What Happens If My Green Card Expires?
If your parents are applying for their green cards from within the US, they can apply for additional benefits while quaint for USCIS approval. There are two helpful forms to complete at this time:
For your parents to get their green cards, Immigration requires them to get a medical examination from an approved US doctor. They need to schedule an appointment with a doctor designated by the USCIS; if they’re located outside the US, they can visit a DOS panel physician for their examination.
At the doctor's visit, they’ll need to bring Form I-693 to document the results.
After the examination, your parents will receive a sealed document containing their medical record to submit to the USCIS. They will need to bring this unopened envelope with them to the green card interview in the future.
Finally, it’s time to gather all of the forms, filing fees, and supporting documents and send them to the USCIS. We recommend that they include a cover letter that details everything included in the paperwork.
Parents filing for their green card through Adjustment of Status should mail their packet of documents to the USCIS. This packet should include:
The USCIS may also require additional case-specific documents for your parent’s application. You can find the Form I-485 checklist here.
After your parents file Form DS-260, they will receive a notice that the NVC received it (typically the same day). Their next step is submitting any required supporting documents, which can vary from consulate to consulate.
The most commonly needed items include:
Related: Divorce & Green Cards: What Happens Next
Consulates will have different requirements for how you provide these documents. You may have to physically mail them, email them, or upload them to a website. Upon submitting these documents, the NVC will combine all of the forms and materials before sending them to the consulate to process their case.
Once the USCIS receives your parent’s application, they’ll get a Form I-797C to confirm. They may also receive a Request for Evidence stating that the USCIS requires additional information before processing their application.
About two to three weeks after filing, your parents will usually receive a notice to attend a biometrics appointment that includes the time, date, and location they must report to. After that appointment, the USCIS will finish processing the application and send a notice for your parent’s green card interview. After the interview, their application will either be approved or rejected, depending on the examiner’s decision.
The process of getting a green card for your parents is complex, requiring various forms, fees, and supporting documentation. A single missed step or misfiled form can set the entire process back, making your parents wait longer and raising the odds of USCIS rejecting the application.
At Brudner Law, our Orange County/Irvine immigration lawyers believe in helping your family stay together. We can provide our assistance to ensure that your green card filing goes smoothly and each step gets completed properly.
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