Under the current US laws, every Green Card holder is allowed to request a green card for his/her close relatives. One’s children, spouse, or children are considered to be close family members. However, to do this one has to meet a set of criteria and complete some formal procedures. As it’s not a very straightforward process, collecting some information beforehand makes it a lot easier for you. Therefore, if you’re in a similar situation right now the information below will come up very helpful on how to get a Green Card for parents.
How To Apply For a Green Card For Parents?
If you’re a legal permanent resident of the US you have the right to request a green card for your immediate relative. Provided that you meet this criterion, you can now apply for a Green card for parents.
To do this you will need to file Form I-485 and Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. Following the approval from the US immigration authorities, your parent can start procedures that are necessary to complete with the US embassy.
If at the time of application for a Green Card your relative is in the US and a few other criteria are met your parent can apply for the so-called “adjustment status”. That means that they can apply for a Green Card while they’re staying in the US on another temporary travel document, i.e. visa. In such case, they will have to file Form-I 485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
SIDE NOTE: The annual number of immigrant visas for close relatives is not limited.
What Documents You Must Submit To Apply For Green Card For Parents?
If at the time of application a person who is a close relative of a US legal permanent resident or citizen is already in the US, he or she must provide the following documents to relevant US immigration authorities
- Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
- Copy of the Form I-797 and Approval or Receipt Notice for the Form I-130 you’ve filed
- Two valid pass photos
- valid ID document (with a photo of you on it) – Copy
- your birth certificate – Copy
- page of your passport with the admission stamp issued by the a US immigration officer (if applicable) – Copy
- Copy of Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record or copy of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stamp on your travel document (if applicable)
US Family Based Immigration
The persons that are eligible for permanent immigration to the US are divided in a few categories. One of them are family-based immigration. In this category itself there are five different sub-categories as shown below
- First preference (F1) – Sons and daughters of US citizens (they must be unmarried and at least 21 years old)
- Second preference (F2A) – spouses and children of legal permanent US residents ( they must be unmarried and at least 21 years old)
- Second preference (F2B) – sons and daughters of legal permanent US residents (they must be unmarried and at least 21 years old)
- Third preference (F3) – sons and daughters (married) of US citizens
- Fourth preference (F4) – brothers and sisters of US citizens (the US citizen must be at least 21 years of age)
While the application process for each type of family-based immigration might contain many similarities, official application forms you need to fill and a few other procedures might vary. Therefore it is highly recommended that you request detailed information for each of them from the relevant authorities prior to your application.
