Citizens Apply For Parent Green Card- Step by Step Guidelines and Checklist in Detail (Updated 2021)
Parent green card is a U.S. citizens apply for their parents to immigrate and apply for a parent’s green card.
Does US citizen sponsor parents?
Yes, U.S. citizen can apply for parents to immigrate to the U.S. and apply for a parent’s green card. U.S. citizen apply for parent green card, immigration to the U.S. and apply for a parent’s green card, which are divided into parents applying in the U.S. and parents applying outside the U.S.
1. U.S. citizens apply for parents, whose parents are in the United States
2. U.S. citizens apply for parents, whose parents are oversea/outside the United States.
1.Parents in the United States
Citizens applying for a parent green card, if their parents are in the United States, they can file an immigration application I-130 separately, apply for a green card I-485 separately, or apply for an immigration I-130 and a green card application I-485 together, reentry permit I-131, EAD Work permit I-765.Generally, immigration lawyer suggest to apply together.
1.1 The basic requirements：
1. U.S. citizens are 21 years old and above;
2. The parents are biological parents or legally legal adoptive parents, stepparents (applying adoptive parents and stepparents need more requirements);
3. Provide economic guarantee;
4. The parents have no criminal record. If have a criminal record, consult a lawyer.
TIPS: U.S. green card holders cannot apply for parental green card, only U.S. citizens can apply for parental immigration to the United States and apply for parental green card.
1. Separate I-130, I-130 form and detailed :
1, Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative);
2, $535.00 application fee, Check or Money Order;
3. Birth certificate of a U.S. citizen,a copy of the certificate of naturalization,a copy of the certificate of citizenship or a copy of the U.S. passport;
4. Proof of parent’s relationship, such as the name of the parents on the birth certificate;
5. Copy of parents’ marriage certificate;
6. Form G-1145.
Tips: If two parents apply for immigration, two applications are required. Fill in the document for each parent and put them in two envelopes.
1.3 Separate I-485, I-485 form and detailed checklist:
1. Form I-485 (I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status);
2. $1225.00 application fee, check or money order (depending on age, fees are different, please check the website of the USCIS for details);
3. Two passport photos of 2inch*2inch, write A number on the back;
3. Copy of parents’ passport and visa page, copy of entry stamp page, I-94 record;
4. Parents’ birth certificate;
5. I-797 receipt;
6. Immigration sponsorship form I-864, the sponsor’s tax bill for the past 3 years.
How much income do I need to sponsor my parents?
Generally, a family of 2 people needs an income of 30,000, and a family of 3 people needs an income of 40,000. If the income is insufficient, you can also use cash deposits, housing and other guarantees;
7. Parental immigration medical report, Form I-693;
8. A copy of the U.S. citizen’s identity certificate, a copy of the passport or a copy of the birth certificate;
9. Form G-1145.
Tip: If you apply for immigration to two parents, fill in the documents for the parents separately, you need two applications, and it is best to put them in two envelopes.
1.4 Separate I-131, application checklist of reentry permit:
1. Submit the I-131 Reentry Permit Form;
2. Copy of I-485 receipt, I-797;
3. Copy of passport, copy of entry stamp page and visa page;
4. Two passport photos 2 Inch*2 Inch. Note: A number. is written on the back
1.5 Separate I-765, checklist of application of work permit:
1. Submit Form I-765;
2. Copy I-797 of I-485 receipt;
3. Two photos, passpord format 2 Inch*2 Inch. TIPS: write A number on the back of the photo.
3. Copy of visa page, copy of passport and entry stamp page;
If you are only filing Form I-130 and you live in:
Alaska
American Samoa
Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Guam
Hawaii
Idaho
Kansas
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota
Northern Mariana Islands
Oklahoma
Oregon
Puerto Rico
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Virgin Islands
Washington
Wyoming
Mail your application to: USCIS Phoenix Lockbox
U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: I-130
P.O. Box 21700
Phoenix, AZ 85036
FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: I-130
1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85034
You are only filing Form I-130, and you live in or outside the United States:
Alabama
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vermont
Virginia
Washington, D.C.
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Mail your application to:USCIS Dallas Lockbox
U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: I-130
P.O. Box 650264
Dallas, TX 75265
FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: I-130
2501 S. State Hwy, 121 Business
Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067
1.6 combined I-130 and I-485 with reentry permit I-131, EAD work permit I-765 checklist in detail:
1. Form I-485 (I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status);
2. Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative);
3. I-765 EAD work permit form;
3. I-131 reentry permit application form;
5. $1760 .00 Money Order application fee or personal check (depending on the age, the application fee is also different, please check the USCIS website for details);
6. Copy of U.S. passport, citizen birth certificate ,a copy of the certificate of naturalization, or a copy of the certificate of citizenship ;
7. Proof of the parent’s relationship, such as the name of the parents on the birth certificate;
8. Copy of parents’ marriage certificate. Including copies of all past marriage certificates and divorce certificates.
9. I-94 records, copies of parents’ passports, copies of visa pages and entry stamp pages;
10. Notarized birth certificate of parents;
11. 8 passport format photos of 2inch*2inch, with A number on the back;
12. Parent Immigration Medical Report Form I-693;
13. Immigration sponsorship form I-864, the sponsor’s tax bill for the past 3 years. How much income do I need to sponsor my parents? If it is a 3-person family, it needs an income of 40,000, if it is a 2-person family, it needs an income of 30,000. If the income is insufficient, you can use housing and cash deposits as a guarantee.
14. Form G-1145.
Tips: If you apply for immigration for two parents, you need to fill 2 applications 2 for 2 parents, and put them in two envelopes.
U.S. Postal Service (USPS):
USCIS
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120
FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: FBAS
131 South Dearborn – 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517
consult an immigration lawyer to know how to submit a relative immigration application to USCIS
2. parents outside the United States
U.S. citizens apply for a parent green card. If the parents are outside the U.S., there are 4 steps. The first step is the USCIS to apply for immigration I-130, the second step is the US National Visa Center NVC, and the third step is the U.S. embassy in the local office for immigrant visa I-260, Step 4 USCIS pays the green card production fee.
How long does it take to get a green card for parents?
Generally 7-15 months. The shortest is 7 months and the longest is 15 months, based on past experience. At the end of the chapter, will shared the timeline for citizens to apply for their parents’ green card.
2.1 The basic requirements：
1. U.S. citizens are 21 years old and above;
2. Provide financial guarantee;
3. The parents have no criminal record.
4. The parents are biological parents or legal stepparents or adoptive parents (more conditions are required to apply for stepparents or adoptive parents);
TIPS: Only US citizens can apply for parental immigration and parental green cards，U.S. green card holders cannot apply for parental green cards.
2.2 The first step I-130. Apply to the USCIS for relatives immigrate. the checklist in detail:
1. Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative);
2. $535.00 check or Money Order;
3. Copy of U.S. citizen birth certificate or U.S. passport;
4. Proof of the relationship between the citizen and the parents, if the name of the parents is on the birth certificate;
5. Copy of parents’ marriage certificate;
6. Form G-1145.
Tips: 2 parents need 2 applications, fill in the parent materials separately, and put them in two envelopes.
Send to USCIS:
You are only filing Form I-130, and you live in or outside the United States:
Alabama
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vermont
Virginia
Washington, D.C.
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Mail your application to:USCIS Dallas Lockbox
FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: I-130
2501 S. State Hwy, 121 Business
Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067
U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: I-130
P.O. Box 650264
Dallas, TX 75265
If you are only filing Form I-130 and you live in:
Alaska
American Samoa
Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Guam
Hawaii
Idaho
Kansas
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota
Northern Mariana Islands
Oklahoma
Oregon
Puerto Rico
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Virgin Islands
Washington
Wyoming
Mail your application to: USCIS Phoenix Lockbox
FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: I-130
1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85034
U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: I-130
P.O. Box 21700
Phoenix, AZ 85036
After the immigration application is approved, the case will be transferred to the National Visa Center NVC.
2.3 Step 2 National Visa Center NVC.
After receiving the case, the National Visa Center NVC will send a letter to the applicant, telling the applicant that the case has been received, including the NVC Case Number and Invoice ID Number, and request to submit the following documents:
1. Submit the immigrant visa form DS-260;
2. The application fee for ACH online transfer is $445.00. The financial guarantee fee is US$120.00 and the visa fee is US$325.00;
3. Submit the financial guarantee form I-864;
4. Submit civil documents, including passport information pages, US passport-sized photos, birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, criminal record certificates, and military service certificates (if applicable).
TIPS: Download the financial guarantee form I-864 from the USCIS website in advance, fill in the form and sign.
log on to the State Council website CEAC first, use the above National Visa Center NVC case number and invoice number Invoice ID Number, ACH online payment immigrant visa fee $325.00 and financial guarantee fee $120.00. About 1-2 weeks After receiving the payment, NVC prompts to submit the immigrant visa application DS-260, and financial guarantee I-864 form. The I-864 form filled in advance, scan each page and upload it to the State Council website CEAC.If the applicant’s income is insufficient, can also use cash, housing assets to guarantee, and can add a join guarantor, etc.
Tips: Keep the original I-864 form of financial guarantee. The original I-864 form is required when the US consulate applies for an immigrant visa.
have a problem with the financial guarantee, contact an immigration lawyer for consultation
2.4 The third step U.S. consulate visa
After approval by the National Visa Center NVC, the case will be transferred to the U.S. Consulate in the local office for immigration visa. Approximately 1-2 months after receiving the appointment letter from the local consulate, the interview time and location will be indicated. Generally, the interview will be in one month to six month. After receiving the appointment letter.preparing for the interview, please prepare the following checklist in detail:
1. Immigration medical report. Only an immigration medical report issued by a doctor or hospital approved by the consulate;
2. All previous immigration application documents.
After the parents’ immigrant visas are passed, the visa officer will take the parents’ passports and use them to make visas. Generally, the passport can be sent back in 2-4 weeks.
Note: The validity period of the immigrant visa is not 180 days from the date of the visa, but 180 days from the date of the medical examination report, at which time you are going to land in the United States.
2.5 Step 4 USCIS pays the green card production fee
Parents will receive an immigration packet 2-4 weeks after passing the immigration interview, including a passport with visa. The visa is valid within 6 months. When entering the United States, the immigration packet needs to be handed over to the border customs officer. Finally, don’t forget to go the website of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to pays the parent green card production fee, and the green card is generally received within 90 days.
If you have any immigration case, contact us
Real case sharing:
U.S. citizens apply for their parents’ green card, and their parents are outside the U.S.
Tony is a U.S. citizen,his parents are overseas in the U.S.
March 2019 Submit the I-130 Form for Parent Immigration;
April 2019,Received the I-797 receipt from the USCIS;
January 2020, Approved by the USCIS, the case was transferred to the National Visa Center NVC;
March 2020,Received the NVC notification from the National Visa Center to request documents to be submitted;
April 2020,Submit all required documents to the National Visa Center NVC;
July 2020, the National Visa Center NVC approved, and the case was transferred to the US local consulate;
April 2021,Receive notice of consulate interview ;
May 2021,Passed the immigration visa interview at the local consulate;
Currently,preparing to land in the U.S.