Green Card for Parents and Children · Richmond, VA · All 50 States

What a green card for your parent or child means

You became a U.S. citizen, and now you want the people who matter most here with you. A green card for parents and children of U.S. citizens is the most direct family path there is. Your mother or father, or your unmarried child under 21, does not wait in a visa line.

When USCIS approves the petition, your parent or child receives a permanent ten-year green card. They can live and work in the United States, travel freely, and in time apply for citizenship. For many families, it is the end of years of visits and goodbyes.

Why families wait longer than they need to

Most families who call us have done nothing wrong. They waited because nobody told them there is no line for immediate relatives. Others got stuck on the sponsor's finances, or on a parent's old entry that nobody had ever explained to them.

Who you can petition for

Your parent

You must be 21 or older to petition for your mother or father. Once you are, your parent is an immediate relative: no yearly limit, no visa line. Our step-by-step guide to a green card for parents walks through the filing.

Your unmarried child under 21

Your unmarried son or daughter under 21 is also an immediate relative. If your child is already here and came in legally, they can usually file Form I-485 alongside your I-130.

Your son or daughter who is 21 or older

An unmarried son or daughter over 21 waits years for a visa number in the F1 category, and a married son or daughter waits longer still in F3. Read a parent's guide to sons and daughters over 21.

If you are the one married to a U.S. citizen, our marriage-based green card page is the one you want.

The path from petition to green card

A green card for parents or children begins with a separate Form I-130 for each relative, with proof of your citizenship and of how you are related.

An immediate relative who is already here and entered legally can file Form I-485 with your petition. That is adjustment of status. If they live abroad, the approved petition goes to the National Visa Center and ends with an interview at a U.S. consulate. Either way, you sign Form I-864, promising to support them. If your income is too low, a joint sponsor can sign too.

What USCIS is really checking

USCIS judges every parent and child case on three things: the relationship, the money, and the history. Those are also the three places cases go wrong, and every one of them is easier to fix before you file than after.

The relationship

USCIS needs proof that you are a U.S. citizen and that this person really is your parent or child. That means birth certificates, your naturalization certificate or passport, and any name-change or adoption records. Age matters here too. The day your child turns 21, they move from immediate relative into a line that can run for years. The Child Status Protection Act can freeze a child's age in some cases, but the math is specific, so talk to us before the birthday.

The money

As the sponsor, you must show income of at least 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for your household size. If you fall short, a joint sponsor or your assets can close the gap, but only if it is documented the right way. Our quick guide to Form I-864 shows how the numbers work.

The history

USCIS will look at every time your relative entered the country, every visa, and every overstay. The hardest case is a parent who crossed the border without being admitted. They usually cannot finish the process from inside the United States, and leaving for a consular interview can trigger a bar on coming back. There is a waiver, but it depends on your parent having a spouse or parent of their own who is a citizen or resident. Being your parent is not enough. Our overview of family-based immigration waivers explains why.

How we handle a green card for parents and children

Every family-based green card we file starts with the whole family: who you want to petition for, where each person is today, and how they got here. From there we pick the right path for each relative and give you an honest timeline.

We put together every I-130, I-485 and I-864 with the evidence USCIS is going to ask for, so nothing gets sent back. Before the interview, we sit down with your family and walk through it, and we stay on the case until the decision comes.

Families nationwide, roots in Richmond

Families in all 50 states hire us to bring their parents and children home. Nothing about this process requires you to be in Virginia. The petition is paperwork and preparation, and interviews happen at the USCIS office or consulate nearest your relative.

Our office is in Richmond, Virginia, and we are glad to meet in person if you are local. Wherever you are, start with our free eligibility check or schedule a consultation.