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How to Get a Green Card for Your Parents as a U.S. Citizen
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Parents of U.S. citizens who are noncitizens qualify to migrate to the U.S. under the sponsorship of their children who are over the age of 21. If the parents are already in the U.S. in some other visa status or even without any status, it is possible for them to apply and obtain a green card without being required to leave the U.S. to process for the green card outside the country. At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, we have family immigration lawyers who routinely help U.S. citizens obtain green cards for their parents. We are based in Chicago but also handle cases in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Obtaining Green Cards for Parents of U.S. Citizens
The process of obtaining a green card for one or both parents start with the U.S. citizen filing an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (I-130) with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It will take approximately 10.5 to 16 months to have the green card processed and have the parent or both parents receive their green cards. The I-130 petition must be accompanied by evidence to establish the existence of the relationship between parent and child, in this case, between the U.S. citizen child and his or her parent or parents.
Additional requirements that must be met are as follows:
- You must show proof that you are a U.S. citizen, and this is typically done by providing a copy of your U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or birth certificate.
- The birth certificate will also show that these are your parent or parents you are sponsoring with the I-130 petition.
- You must show that you can support the parent or parents at 125% over the poverty line. To figure out what that income is, you can check with the 2023 Poverty Guidelines.
If your parents are already in the U.S., you can file both your petition for them and their individual I-485 Application to Register as Permanent Resident or Adjust Status. Each parent will require a separate application, so if both of your parents are applying for a green card, both must file separate applications, and each must pay the applicable fees.
If your parents are outside the U.S., then the I-130 will first have to be processed and approved before they can apply for their green cards. They will apply for the green card under what is known as “consular processing,” meaning they will apply for their green cards at the U.S. embassy in the country they live in or at the nearest U.S. consulate. The consular processing begins when USCIS approves the I-130 petition and notifies the National Visa Center (NVC), which in turn notifies the parent or parents to start processing their green card applications.
If you are a U.S. citizen and wish to sponsor your parents for a green card, contact us today and schedule an appointment to discuss with one of our immigration attorneys how we can help you. Do not risk doing it alone, as things can quickly get complicated and cause you more delays and costs.
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My aunt was recently detained by ICE and sent to El Paso, Texas to the East Montana Detention Facility. This place is essentially a prison in the middle of the desert, and the majority of the detainees here get deported. My family and I interviewed a dozen immigration attorneys around the country to help my aunt, and we decided to hire Kevin Raica, an attorney with Kriezelman Burton and Associates.…
Our case was very difficult, and at times it felt like there was no way out. My wife was detained for a long period of time, and it was an extremely challenging experience for our family. Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC truly changed our situation. I would especially like to thank our attorney, Brittni Rivera, as well as Natalia. They were attentive, honest, and always ready to help. It was…
I cannot recommend Kevin Raica highly enough. He helped me successfully obtain my U.S. green card, and the entire process was smooth and stress-free because of his expertise and dedication. From start to finish, Kevin was professional, organized, and extremely knowledgeable about immigration law. He made sure every document was prepared correctly and took the time to explain each step clearly. Anytime I had questions, he responded promptly and made…
Great experience with this attorney office. They helped me with my I-751 waiver after divorce. Kevin was very professional, and supported me through the interview. Everything went smoothly and my case was approved. Highly recommend!
We contacted Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, based on a recommendation, when my wife was detained by ICE. Attorney Khiabett Osuna handled our case, and it turned out to be the right choice. From the very beginning, she proved herself to be a caring and competent professional, clearly explaining the process. You can tell she's truly invested in each case and achieving results for her clients. We've also heard of…
I would like to express my gratitude to Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and especially to attorney Khiabett Osuna, who handled my case. I contacted them based on a recommendation and have never regretted it. From the very beginning, she demonstrated high professionalism. I could tell she was genuinely committed to the outcome and was doing everything possible to protect her client.
Mr. Kriezelman, Mr. Burton and Ms. Erin Cobb, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for handling my case. Your knowledge and dedication to my case is truly appreciated. Thank you.
I highly recommend Brittni Rivera. We are very grateful to her and the entire team at Kriezelman Burton & Associates. Your dedication, responsiveness, and compassion made an enormous difference during an incredibly difficult time. Serving as the liaison between Brittni Rivera and our friend in ICE detention, I saw firsthand how tirelessly she worked guiding us through the process, answering every question, and never losing sight of the humanity at…
Andrea C. Ochoa is truly the best of the best. ❤️ Our family went through one of the most difficult and frightening experiences of our lives when Feruz was detained by ICE. We felt lost, scared, and unsure of what would happen next. From the very beginning, Andrea brought us not only her professionalism and deep legal knowledge, but also something even more important — hope. She guided us through…
Thank you Matthew for all your help with my case. Highly recommend
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