Green Card Roadmap
for Parents of USCs

How U.S. Citizens Can Sponsor Their Parents for Permanent Residence

If you are a U.S. citizen, either by birth or through naturalization, and at least 21 years old, you can help your foreign national parent obtain a Green Card and become a permanent resident of the United States. This guide walks you through the two-step process—from filing the I-130 petition to completing either Adjustment of Status or the Immigrant Visa Process—along with required documentation, what to expect after filing, and common scenarios you may encounter.

Updated 2025

Overview of the Green Card Process

The Green Card process for the parent of a U.S. citizen consists of two main steps. Understanding these steps and the available pathways will help you plan effectively and set realistic expectations.

How It Works

If you are a citizen of the United States ("USC"), either by birth or through naturalization, and at least 21 years old, you can help your foreign national ("FN") parent obtain a Green Card and become a permanent resident of the United States. For immigration purposes, a parent is either a birth parent, adoptive parent, or stepparent.

Step 1: File Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

The USC adult child (the "petitioner") files Form I-130 on behalf of their FN parent (the "beneficiary"). If you want to sponsor both of your parents for a Green Card, you must submit a separate I-130 petition for each of them.

Step 2: Complete the Immigrant Visa Process (IVP) or Adjustment of Status (AOS)

Upon approval of the I-130 petition, the FN parent will either start the Immigrant Visa Process through a U.S. Consulate abroad or file an I-485 Adjustment of Status application from inside the U.S.

IVP vs. AOS: Choosing the Right Path

Your FN parent can pursue either the Immigrant Visa Process (IVP) or the Adjustment of Status (AOS) route. Which route is best will depend on your FN parent's status in the U.S., their place of residence, and whether they are willing and able to remain in the U.S. while their Green Card application is pending, or whether they need the flexibility to travel.

Concurrent Filing Option

If your parent is physically present in the U.S. and has no immediate need for travel outside the U.S., the I-130 petition and I-485 AOS application may be filed together, saving significant time.

Basic Requirements

The basic requirements for obtaining a family-based Green Card for a parent are as follows:

The petitioning child must be a U.S. citizen and aged 21 or older.
There must be a legal parent-child relationship between the FN parent and the USC.
The FN parent is eligible and admissible to the United States.

In addition, FN parents who wish to file for Adjustment of Status (AOS) from inside the U.S. must also:

Be physically present in the U.S. after having been inspected, admitted, or paroled by an immigration officer.

Required Documentation

Gathering the right documents is critical to a smooth filing process. Below is an overview of the key supporting documents required at each stage. Upon case initiation, our firm will provide you with a comprehensive document checklist for each step.

I-130 Petition Documents

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.
Your proof of USC status (e.g., birth certificate, naturalization certificate, certificate of citizenship, and/or U.S. passport biographic page).
Copy of your FN parent's foreign passport biographic page.
Copy of your birth certificate showing your name and the name of your parent.
If petitioning for your father: A copy of your parents' civil marriage certificate.

AOS vs. IVP Documentation

Documents Required by Pathway

AOS (Adjustment of Status)	IVP (Immigrant Visa Process)
Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status; if needed, along with Form I-765 (Employment Authorization) and Form I-131 (Travel Document).	Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application.
Approval Notice of the underlying I-130 petition (if not filed concurrently with the AOS application).	Copy of your FN parent's long-form birth certificate (with certified English translation, if applicable).
Valid passport.	Proof of a valid parent-child relationship.
Copy of your FN parent's long-form birth certificate (with certified English translation, if applicable).	Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, along with supporting documentation (e.g., tax returns, pay stubs, employment verification letter, etc.).
Proof of a valid parent-child relationship.	Police certificates for all countries where your FN parent has lived for six months or more since their 16th birthday.
Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, along with supporting documentation (e.g., tax returns, pay stubs, employment verification letter, etc.).	Medical exam results and immunization records, issued by a specially authorized physician ("panel physician"). This step cannot be completed until your FN parent has been scheduled for their consular interview.
Sealed envelope with your FN parent's medical exam results and immunization information, issued by a specially authorized physician ("civil surgeon").	—

What to Expect After Filing

Once the I-130 petition has been filed, the process unfolds differently depending on whether your parent is pursuing Adjustment of Status or the Immigrant Visa Process. Here is the typical order of events for each pathway.

Initial Receipt Notice

After filing, USCIS will mail an official I-130 Receipt Notice to our office and the mailing address provided by you and your parent. This notice contains a receipt number which can be used to track the status of the petition online.

Adjustment of Status (AOS) Timeline

Step 1: Receipt Notices Issued

USCIS will issue official Receipt Notices for the I-485 AOS application and any related I-765 (work permit) and I-131 (travel document) applications.

Step 2: Biometrics Appointment

Your FN parent is scheduled for a biometrics appointment for fingerprints, photos, and a digital signature.

Step 3: Work and Travel Permits Approved

USCIS approves any I-765 and I-131 applications and issues documents that allow your FN parent to work and travel while the AOS is pending.

Step 4: Request for Evidence (If Applicable)

If USCIS needs more information or documentation, it will send out a Request for Evidence ("RFE").

Step 5: Joint Interview

Both you and your parent are scheduled for a joint interview at a local USCIS office.

Step 6: Green Card Approval

Upon approval, your FN parent receives the Green Card by mail.

Immigrant Visa Process (IVP) Timeline

Step 1: Case Forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC)

Upon approval of the I-130 petition, the case is automatically forwarded to the National Visa Center.

Step 2: Case Number and Fee Bill Issued

The NVC assigns your FN parent a case number and mails a letter (the "Fee Bill") to our office, with detailed instructions on how to pay the fees for the Affidavit of Support Processing and the Immigrant Visa Application.

Step 3: Document Submission Instructions

Upon payment of the processing fees, the NVC provides detailed instructions on which forms and documents to prepare and submit.

Step 4: Additional Evidence (If Applicable)

If the NVC needs any additional information or documentation, it will provide further instructions.

Step 5: Consular Interview Scheduled

Once all forms and supporting documents are reviewed, the NVC issues an Appointment Letter with the date and time for your FN parent's interview at the consulate, along with instructions for the medical exam and general instructions for the appointment day.

Step 6: Interview and Visa Processing

If the interview goes well, the Consular Officer keeps your parent's passport for processing of the immigrant visa.

Step 7: Entry to the U.S. and Green Card

Your FN parent enters the U.S. with the immigrant visa and receives a passport stamp that serves as temporary proof of lawful permanent residence, enabling them to work in the U.S. and freely travel in and outside the country. The actual Green Card will be automatically mailed to your FN parent's U.S. address.

Processing Times Vary

The processing times for family-based I-130 petitions, I-485, I-765, and I-131 applications, as well as for the Immigrant Visa Process through the National Visa Center, vary greatly and depend on several factors. We will do our best to give you estimates based on current trends. You can also check estimated USCIS processing times at egov.uscis.gov/processing-times and NVC timeframes at travel.state.gov.

Common Scenarios

Every family's situation is unique. Below are some common scenarios that may affect the Green Card process for your parent, including special documentation requirements and potential pitfalls to avoid.

The 90-Day Rule and AOS

USCIS officers are instructed to review each case for indicators of potential fraud. A relatively common scenario involves an FN parent who enters the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program or in a visa category that does not allow for so-called immigrant intent (e.g., as a B-2 visitor) and then applies for Adjustment of Status, filed concurrently with their USC child's I-130 petition.

Important Warning

If the AOS application is filed within 90 days of admission to the U.S., the immigration officer deciding on the FN parent's adjustment application might presume that the FN parent willfully misrepresented their true intentions at the U.S. consulate abroad or at the border. The FN parent should then be prepared to provide evidence to the contrary.

Petitioning USC Child Born Out of Wedlock

If you are petitioning for your father and your parents were not married to each other when you were born, you will need a copy of your birth certificate showing your name and your father's name, along with one of the following:

Evidence that you were legitimated before your 18th birthday through the marriage of your natural parents, the laws of your country, or the laws of your father's state or country of residence.
Evidence that there was an emotional or financial bond between you and your father before you were married or turned 21 (whichever came first).

Stepparents

If you are petitioning for a stepparent, you will also need the following additional documentation:

A copy of the civil marriage certificate of your birth parent to your stepparent showing that the marriage occurred before your 18th birthday.
A copy of any divorce decree, death certificate, or annulment decree to show that any previous marriage entered into by your natural or stepparent ended legally.

Adoptive Parents

If you are sponsoring your adoptive parent, you will also need:

A certified copy of the adoption certificate showing that the adoption took place before your 16th birthday.
A statement showing the dates and places you have lived together with your adoptive parent.

Siblings

If your parents have other children abroad, those children—your siblings—cannot be included in your parent's petitions. Once your parent has a Green Card, they may file a separate petition for any qualifying relative, including unmarried adult children. Alternatively, you can file a separate I-130 petition for each of your qualifying siblings.

Significant Wait Times for Siblings

In both scenarios, your adult siblings will face significant wait times during which they may also be ineligible for a visitor or other nonimmigrant visa to the U.S.

Legal and Policy Sources

8 C.F.R. § 204.1; 8 C.F.R. § 204.2(f); 8 C.F.R. § 204.2(g)
USCIS.gov: I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
USCIS.gov: Bringing Parents to Live in the United States as Permanent Residents
USCIS.gov: Family of Green Card Holders (Permanent Residents)
Travel.State.gov: Family Immigration
USCIS.gov: Adjustment of Status
Vol. 9, Foreign Affairs Manual § 502.2
Vol. 9, Foreign Affairs Manual § 302.9-4(B)(3)(g)
Travel.State.gov: The Visa Bulletin

Disclaimer

Immigration policies and regulations are complex and frequently subject to change. The information contained in this roadmap is intended to provide you with a general overview and may not address your particular circumstances and needs.
Serotte Law will assist you with the application and documentation process and answer any questions you may have about the family-based Green Card process. Request a consultation or give us a call at 888-875-8110.

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