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If you are a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years old, you are eligible to petition to bring your parents to live and work permanently in the United States.
If you are a lawful
permanent resident, you are not eligible to petition to bring your parents to live and work permanently in the United States.
Overview of Immigration Process
There is a three-step process for your parent to become a legal immigrant:
- The USCIS must approve an immigrant visa petition that you file for your parent.
- The State Department visa bulletin must show that a parent immigrant visa is available to your parent, based on the date you filed the immigrant visa application.
- If your parent is outside the United States when your visa petition is
approved and when an immigrant visa number (if required) becomes available, your parent will be notified to go to the local U.S. consulate to complete the processing for an immigrant visa. If your parent is legally inside the U.S. when your visa petition is approved and when an immigrant visa number (if required) becomes available, he or she may use the Form I-485 to apply to adjust his or her status to that of a lawful permanent resident.
Information for Citizens
If you are a U.S. citizen, your parent is considered an immediate relative
and is immediately eligible for an immigrant visa if your petition is approved. Generally, if your parent is in the U.S. (through a lawful admission or parole) at the time you file the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, your parent may file a Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status at the same time. For more information, your parent should refer to Adjustment of Status. If he or she is outside the U.S., your parent will need to go to the nearest U.S. consulate to apply
for an immigrant visa.
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