Do My Parents/Siblings Also Receive a Green Card?
Can my parents/siblings also obtain a green card?
When people immigrate to the United States, they naturally want their family to live in the USA with them.
Thus, immigrants often want to know whether their spouse, children, parents and siblings can also receive a US Green Card.
The United States Government has established policies that allow for close family members to be included in the applications for a US Immigrant Visa and Permanent Resident Green Card so the entire family can immigrate to the United States together.
US citizens and permanent residents can also sponsor certain eligible family members to receive a Green Card.
This article will explain how your family can receive a Green Card to live, study and work in the USA, so keep reading for further details!
Table of Contents
Family-Based Immigration and Green Cards for Family Members
American citizens can sponsor certain family members to receive a Green Card:
- Spouse (opposite sex or same sex)
- Dependent Children (under 21 years of age and unmarried)
- Daughters and Sons (over 21 years of age and unmarried)
- Daughters and Sons (any age and married)
- Parents (the US citizen must be at least 21 years of age to sponsor)
- Siblings (the US citizen must be at least 21 years of age to sponsor)
US permanent residents can sponsor certain family members to receive a Green Card:
- Spouse (opposite sex or same sex)
- Dependent Children (under 21 years of age and unmarried)
- Daughter or Son (any age and unmarried)
Requirements for Sponsorship
- To sponsor a family member to receive a Green Card, you must be a US citizen or permanent resident.
- You must be at least 18 years of age to sponsor a spouse or dependent child.
- An American citizen must be at least 21 years of age to sponsor a parent or sibling.
- The sponsor must have the financial resources to support his or her family member(s).
- The sponsor needs to provide documentation to prove the relationship with each sponsored family member.
- The sponsor and sponsored family member(s) need to file the required forms (as relevant).
Application Process for Family-Sponsored Green Cards
- Necessary documentation must be gathered (for example, proof of identification, proof of family relationship, etc.).
- The sponsor must file the Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- The Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative needs to be approved by USCIS.
- The sponsored family member living in the USA will file the Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
- A sponsored family member not living in the USA will file the Form DS-260 Online Visa Application for an Immigrant Visa.
- The government fees must be paid.
- The required interview must be attended (inside or outside the United States, depending on where the sponsored family member lives).
- If approved for a Green Card through adjustment of status, USCIS will issue a letter and the Green Card will be delivered separately.
- If approved for an Immigrant Visa, it will be placed in the family member’s passport and he or she will need to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee online so the Green Card can be sent to the designated address in the United States where it can be retrieved.
Processing Time for Family-Sponsored Green Cards
- The processing time for family-sponsored Green Cards is about 12-33 months, depending on the particular case.
- Factors that can impact processing time include whether the sponsored family member is living in the USA or outside the country; whether the sponsored family member is an immediate family member (such as a spouse or dependent child) of a US citizen or permanent resident; and which country the sponsored family member is from if they are not living in the USA.
Considerations for Family Members Applying for Green Cards
- Following the rules and procedures can help to avoid delays or other problems.
- Seeking legal assistance from a US immigration lawyer can make the process easier to complete correctly.
- Preparing for the adjustment of status process, if living in the USA, is important in transitioning to permanent residency.
- Understanding the role of the sponsor and the role of the sponsored family member in the process can be helpful
Conclusion
Spouses, dependent children, parents and siblings can receive a Green Card through Family Sponsorship by an American citizen or US permanent resident.
The main applicant for US immigration can also include a spouse and dependent children in the application for immigration to the United States so that once approved, the entire family can move to the USA together.
Family Sponsorship is one of several ways that a person can legally live in the USA.
Other US immigration pathways include Employment-Based Green Cards and the Diversity Visa (Green Card) Lottery.
Additionally, there are many ways to live and work in the USA for a limited amount of time, such as with a nonimmigrant temporary Work Visa.
International students can live and study in the United States with a Student Visa, usually for the duration of their study abroad program.
How can you know which US visa program is right for you?
USAFIS can provide you with a US Visa Assessment to let you know which US visa programs you qualify to apply for.
You can also receive beneficial services to help your relocation to the USA go as smoothly as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Can I apply for a Green Card for my parents and siblings?
If you are an American citizen who is at least 21 years of age and you have the necessary financial resources, you can file the Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative with USCIS to start the process to apply for a Green Card for your parents or siblings through Family Sponsorship. If USCIS approves the Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, your parent(s) or sibling(s) (as relevant) would file the application for adjustment of status (if they are already living in the USA) or the application for an Immigrant Visa (if they are not living in the US).
Can I petition my parents and siblings together?
You can file a separate Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative for each parent and each sibling at the same time.
What is the fastest way to bring siblings to the USA?
The fastest way to bring siblings to the USA is for an American citizen who is at least 21 years of age to file the Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once this petition is approved by USCIS, the sibling can apply for a Green Card through adjustment of status (if already living in the USA) or apply for an Immigrant Visa and Green Card (if not living in the USA).
Can someone with a Green Card bring family?
Yes – one of the many benefits of receiving a Green Card is being able to sponsor certain family members (such as a spouse, unmarried child under 21 years of age, and unmarried child of any age) for a Green Card.
Can someone with a Green Card sponsor parents?
No, a permanent resident of the United States cannot apply for a Green Card for parents. However, after living in the USA with a Green Card for five years and satisfying other eligibility requirements, a US permanent resident can apply to become an American citizen. As a naturalized citizen of the United States, an immigrant can apply for a Green Card for parents through Family Sponsorship. In general, an American citizen will start the process by filing the Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative with USCIS. If this petition is approved, the parent will apply for a Green Card through adjustment of status (if already living in the USA as a temporary legal resident) or apply for an Immigrant Visa and Green Card (if not living in the USA).
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