The Parent Green Card Guide | Document Checklist, Process, Interview

If you want to make the U.S. feel more like home, bringing your parents over with a parent green card can be the missing key! Assuming you meet the guidelines and requirements, it’s never been easier to bring your parents to the U.S. with VisaNation’s exclusive service. Get started today, and start the immigration process that will reunite your family.

What is a Parent Green Card?

A parent green card allows the parents of U.S. citizens to live and work in the United States permanently. It offers travel flexibility, access to certain public benefits, and the opportunity to apply for U.S. citizenship after five years of permanent residency.

Green Card Benefits for Parents

1. Permanent residency to live and work freely in the U.S.
2. Access to social benefits (e.g., Social Security, Medicare, SSI)
3. Pathway to obtaining a U.S. Citizenship
4. Ability to travel in and out of the U.S. with just a green card, no visa stamping required
5. Eligibility to sponsor other relatives

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Parent Green Card Requirements

To petition for a parent’s green card, the sponsor must:

• Be a U.S. citizen (at least 21 years old)
• Be able to demonstrate a qualifying relationship (show that you are the child of your parents)
• File Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
• Submit an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) demonstrating you have income or assets at least 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines

Immigration Tip: When the Supreme Court decided the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional, the court ordered USCIS to treat same-sex marriages the same as heterosexual marriages for immigration. This allows same-sex parents to acquire a parent green card.

Parent Green Card Document Checklist

To successfully apply for a green card for your parents, it’s important to gather the required documentation that proves your eligibility and your relationship with your parents.

If your parent is applying within the U.S.:

If your parents are living in the U.S. on a valid nonimmigrant status, you will need the following documents:

• Form I-130 (Petition for Immigrant Relative)
• Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status)
• Form I-693 (Medical Exam)
• Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support)

*Optional

• Form I-131 (Travel Document)
• From I-765 (Employment Authorization Document)

If your parent is applying outside the U.S.:

If your parent is applying from outside the U.S., after filing form I-130, the case is transferred to the Department of State for National Visa Center (NVC) consular processing. Documents include:

• Form I-130 (Petition for Immigrant Relative)
• DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application)
• Medical Exam
• I-864 (Affidavit of Support)

A smooth and successful application requires all the necessary documentation. Whether you are a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident, understanding the process required to secure a parent’s green card will help you navigate this immigration procedure with confidence.

There are a few key forms that pave the way to reuniting with your loved ones and provide them with the opportunity to establish a permanent and cherished home in the United States.

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Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Form I-130 is the foundation for any family-based green card petition. Only you, a U.S. citizen son or daughter, can fill out and submit the green card application for your parent(s). Green card holders cannot petition their parents.

The purpose of the I-130 is to demonstrate the legitimacy of your relationship with yourself and your parents, along with providing background information about yourself and your parents.

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I-130 Document Checklist for Parents

• Evidence of U.S. citizenship:
  • • A birth certificate
    • Naturalization certificate
    • Citizenship certificate
    • Valid U.S. passport (copy of ID page)
• A copy of your birth certificate showing both parents’ names to prove the parent-child relationship
• If there was a legal name change, you need to provide proof
• Two passport photographs

Special Instructions for Adopted Parents, Step-Parents, and Others

Petitioning for a mother who lives abroad

• A copy of your birth certificate with your name and your mother's name

Petitioning for a father who lives abroad

• A copy of your birth certificate with your name and both parents' names
• A copy of your parents' civil marriage certificate
• Potentially a paternity test

Petitioning for a father who lives abroad, you were born out of wedlock, and your father did not legitimize you before your 18th birthday

• A copy of your birth certificate with your father's name and your name on it
• Evidence of a financial and emotional bond that started with your father before your 18th birthday or before you were married, whichever came first
  • Examples of evidence
    • If you lived with your father at some point, any evidence of that would help
    • Financial evidence can include insurance records where you are a beneficiary on your father's plan or receipts of any money your father sent to you, among other pieces of evidence
    • Emotional bond evidence can include letters exchanged between you and your father or affidavits written by those knowledgeable about your relationship

Petitioning for a father who lives abroad, you were born out of wedlock, and your father legitimated you before your 18th birthday.

• A copy of your birth certificate with your father's name and your name on it
• Evidence that you were legitimated before your 18th birthday
  • Examples of evidence
    • A copy of your birth parents' marriage certificate to show they married before you turned 18
    • Paternity test
    • Court documents to show formal legitimation
    • Affidavits

Petitioning for a step-parent

• Copies of
  • Your birth certificate with your parents' names on it
  • Marriage certificate between your birth parent and your step-parent
  • Evidence such as a divorce decree, death certificate, or annulment decree that the previous marriages of your natural and step-parents ended
  • Affidavits

Petitioning for an adoptive parent

• A copy of your birth certificate
• If you were born outside the U.S., submit a copy of your citizenship or naturalization certificate
• A certified copy of your adoption certificate showing that your adoption took place before you turned 16 years old
• A written history of the dates and places you lived with your adopted parents
• Proof of legal/physical custody with your adopted parents
• Termination of Biological Parental Rights
• Important note: Adopted children can't petition for a green card for their biological parents. The only possibility is to establish a "petitionable relationship," which would require you not receiving any immigration benefit due to adoption, a termination of your adoption, and re-establishing a relationship with your biological parents.

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Form I-864 Affidavit of Support

They supported you most of your life, and now it’s time to prove to USCIS that you can support your parents. The Form I-864 Affidavit of Support shows the government that you can support your parents financially.

You need to have enough income to reach at least 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guideline to prove to the government that you can support your parents. The exact number changes yearly as the guideline changes and depends on your household’s size. You must include each parent and past immigrant that you’ve sponsored into your household size, along with the family that is already living with you.

In 2025, the HHS Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support are:

Form I-864 Supporting Documents for Parents

• A copy of your most recent federal income tax returns, along with W-2s
• If you have any 1099s, schedules, or other reported income, include copies of those
• Your most recent six months of pay stubs can help you qualify
• A signed letter from an employer can help
• Include copies of your most recent Schedule C, D, E, or F if you’re self-employed
• If you’re using assets to meet the income requirement, you need to provide documentation about your assets
• Evidence of U.S. citizenship with a birth certificate, naturalization or citizenship certificate, or a copy of your passport

Is your parent lacking a birth certificate? Are they from India? No worries, they can still proceed with the application, however, they will need to submit an affidavit.

Watch the video below to hear some tips from Attorney Quindemil on what to do if your parent’s are from India and don’t have a birth certificate:

When filling out the form, provide basic name and address information about yourself and your parents, your household size, employment and income information, and asset information.

Processing time can be much longer if Form I-864 is completed incorrectly. For no extra fees, your VisaNation application is reviewed by an immigration attorney and checked for accuracy. Start your application today!

Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

If your parents are in the U.S. with a valid nonimmigrant visa, such as an H-1B, they should fill out and submit Form I-485 to adjust their status as long as they entered the United States legally. However, we advise speaking with an immigration lawyer.

Parents in the U.S. who came without an inspection at a port of entry will need to seek applicable waivers. If USCIS approves the waiver, they will go through the green card process as if they are applying from abroad, including doing the green card interview at their respective embassy or consulate in their home country.

Each parent must fill out an I-485 if they each have a nonimmigrant visa while in the country. When filling out the form, they will answer questions regarding:

• Address and employment history
• Marital history
• Family information
• Criminal history
• Details about any security and espionage activity
• Information about any U.S.-based affiliations and memberships
• Immigration violations details
• Public charge details
• and necessary contact and biographical information.

Form I-485 Supporting Documents for Parents

• • Two passport-style photographs for each parent
  • Copies of:
    • Your parents’ birth certificate
    • Parents’ inspection and admission documents
    • Your parents’ Form I-797 or approval, or receipt notice
    • Form I-864
  • Any documents relating to any criminal charges, arrests, or convictions of your parents

Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record

After years of them taking care of you, it’s time to see how your parents are doing health-wise with the required physical and mental evaluation (medical examination) for Form I-693. An approved physician must do the exam, and the results come sealed with a letter stapled to it. Therefore, the sealed packet mustn’t be opened.

USCIS’s Find a Doctor tool is an excellent resource for finding an approved doctor within the United States. Parents applying from abroad should visit the State Department’s website to select their nearest embassy or consulate and see the list of approved panel physicians in their respective countries. In this situation, instead of Form I-693, the approved panel physician fills out Form DS-3025 and forwards the results, in some cases not sharing the results of the exam with you.

Along with the mental and physical evaluation, there is a drug and alcohol screening, medical history review, and tests for different diseases. The physician will also go over your parents’ immunization records, past chest x-rays, and any treatment plans they may have with their doctor.

Before going through the entire green card process, it is essential to know that some health issues can make your parents inadmissible at the outset, including:

• Communicable diseases
• Physical or mental disorders that result in harmful behavior
• Substance abuse and substance-abuse-related disorders can result in damaging behavior
• Failure to present immunization records

If you’re aware that either of your parents has any of the conditions, it is essential to consult with an immigration attorney about your options. Also, other diseases or disorders might not be grounds for inadmissibility alone, but the government can use them in conjunction with other grounds for inadmissibility.

Form I-693 Supporting Documents for Parents

• A full copy of your parents’ medical history
• A copy of their vaccination and immunization records
• Any copies of previous chest x-rays
• A doctor’s letter outlining treatment plans for any medical conditions your parents may have
• A health insurance card if their insurance covers the exam
• Government-issued photo identification

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Forms DS-260, Immigrant Visa Electronic Application, and DS-261, Online Choice of Address and Agent

If your parents are abroad, USCIS must first approve the Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative). Once approved, the case is transferred to the Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing.

Once NVC receives the case, you will:

• Submit Form DS-261 (Choice of Address and Agent) – This form tells the NVC how to contact your parents and who will be managing the case (often the petitioner).
• Complete Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application) – This is the actual visa application form for your parents. It is completed online through the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC).

Parent Green Card Fees

Fees to bring your parents to the U.S. vary depending on the situation. Below is a breakdown of the basic fees.

Parent lives inside the U.S.

• I-130: Paper Filing: $675, Online Filing: $625
• I-485: $1,140
• I-131 (optional): $630
• Medical Examination (varies), estimated $200-$500

Parent lives outside the U.S.

• DS-260: $325
• I-864 (Affidavit of Support): $120
• U.S. Immigrant Fee: $325
• Medical Examination (varies), estimated $200-$500
• *Optional I-131: $630

Parent Green Card Interview

If your parents live abroad, after the National Visa Center (NVC) has received all the required documents, they will set up an interview with your parents at the nearest embassy or consulate. For parents already in the country on a valid nonimmigrant visa, their interview will occur at the closest USCIS field office.

The purpose of the interview is to:

• Confirm the relationship you have with your parents
• Go over your parents’ necessary information
• Ensure the accuracy and validity of the documents submitted in the green card application process.

Consult your immigration attorney to learn which questions the government typically asks during the interview for a green card for parents.

Parent Green Card Processing Time

• The green card processing time for a parent of a U.S. citizen in the U.S. is 9.5 months according to USCIS data, but can range between 6-12 months.
• For those outside the U.S., undergoing consular processing, the processing time is approximately 20 months. This process time involves waiting for USCIS to process your I-130 and the time it takes to complete consular processing.
  • The process takes longer because you cannot do concurrent filing, and appointment availability at consulates/embassies varies.

Relative to other green cards and visas, the parent green card has a fast processing time as it is an “immediate-relative” green card. This is because there is no annual limit on the number of immediate relatives the U.S. will accept.

Therefore, if your parents are present in the United States and entered after being inspected at a port of entry, they may be able to submit the I-485 application concurrently with the I-130.

However, we advise speaking with an immigration lawyer if you are considering adjusting your parents’ status.

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Green Card for Parents Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the questions our office frequently receives regarding the parent green card process:

Is a biometric service appointment required?

USCIS requires a biometric service for providing fingerprints, gathering additional information, background checks, etc. USCIS will notify you by mail if this is needed after it receives your petition.

Who can not file Form I-130?

According to USCIS, you cannot file Form I-130 for a birth parent if you “gained lawful permanent resident status or U.S. citizenship through adoption or as a special immigrant juvenile.” Similarly, you cannot file Form I-130 for an adoptive parent “if the adoption took place after the child turned 16 years of age, or if the child has not been in the legal custody and has not lived with the parents for at least two years before filing the petition.” It is important to know the complete list of conditions that exclude eligibility for filing Form I-130.

How do I obtain a birth certificate for a green card?

As part of the process of getting a green card, and specifically to meet the I-130 requirements, you will need to submit a copy of your birth certificate that proves the relationship between you and your parents. The beneficiary’s (parents’) names should be on the birth certificate of the petitioner; however, if not, there are supplemental documents to provide. If you (the sponsor) were born in the United States, you can obtain a copy of your birth certificate from the vital records office of the state where you were born. If you were born overseas, you can get a copy of your birth certificate from the government agency in your home country. This U.S. Department of State site allows you to find the issuing authority by filtering it by country in the upper left-hand corner. Select the “Birth, Death, Burial Certificates” tab in the drop-down menu.

What happens after I file Form I-130? 

USCIS will notify you if your Form I-130 is denied or approved. If it is approved and your parents reside outside the U.S., the State Department will notify them to go to a U.S. consulate in their country to complete the processing. Should your parents be in the United States, they can be eligible to file Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status simultaneously with Form I-130.

Is the processing time shorter if I file Form I-485 concurrently with Form I-130?

Yes, this speeds up the process compared to other filing avenues, assuming the I-130 gets approved.

How long does it take for the National Visa Center (NVC) to process the DS-260? 

It typically takes two to six months, although additional backlogs may exist.

Can my parent travel outside the U.S. while their Adjustment of Status Green Card application is waiting to be approved? 

Nothing prevents your parents from traveling outside the U.S., but they should apply for the Advance Parole Form I-131. Having this travel document in hand will allow easier re-entry into the U.S.

Are my parents required to get a medical exam? 

They will need to get one plus the required vaccines from a USCIS-designated doctor. If they are outside of the country applying for a Green Card via Consular Processing, they should use a Department of State physician. They can identify one by contacting the U.S. Embassy/Consulate near them.

What questions can be expected at a parent’s green card interview?

Some questions a parent can be prepared to answer would be: Where will you stay in the U.S.? How many children do you have? What is the occupation of your child sponsoring you? Where does your sponsor live? How did your sponsor become a U.S. citizen? Have you been to the U.S. before?

What do I do if my parents can’t find their birth certificate?

If a parent does not have a birth certificate, then they can supplement that component with affidavits affirming the parent’s date of birth, alongside supplementary evidence such as school leaving certificates, school records, driver’s license, or any other valid government-issued documents.

What do I do if my parents can’t find their marriage certificate?

Two marriage affidavits will be required from relatives, friends, or other individuals who attended the wedding. These sworn statements provide valuable testimony affirming the authenticity and legitimacy of the marriage. Additionally, supporting evidence, such as personal, business, or government records reflecting the couple’s marital status, should be included to further strengthen the application.

Should I hire a lawyer if I don’t know how to apply for a green card for my parents? 

Yes, you should hire a professional immigration lawyer to obtain a green card for your parents. Enlisting the help of an experienced attorney can ensure your parents have the highest chance of being approved and joining you in the United States.