PARENTS PETITION

The Consular process is the process in which your parents get an immigrant visa outside of the United States. This process is appropriate for parents who reside abroad at the time you submit the petition. Once the Form I-130 petition is approved, it is automatically sent to the US Department of State, National Visa Center (NVC) for consular processing. NVC will contact the petitioner by email to request payment for the immigrant visa fees and the affidavit of support.

There is an unlimited number of visas available for parents of United States citizens. This means that the visa will be immediately available. Your parents will not have to wait for a visa to become available because of backlogs. Your parents will get a green card much faster than other categories of applicants.

The affidavit of support is a legal requirement for the green card petition for parents. It is a contract that the U.S. citizen petitioner makes with the U.S. government to ensure that the immigrant will not become a public charge. A public charge is a person that uses financial government assistance to live. This contract confirms to the U.S. government that you will be responsible for your parents’ expenses while they are in the United States. It also states that your parents will not seek public assistance in the U.S. The affidavit of support must include the petitioner’s income information, including recent tax returns and proof of income.

Once the affidavit of support is approved and visa fees are paid, your parents will be scheduled for an interview at the Embassy/Consulate of their home country. Your parents must bring a police certificate, a medical exam by an approved panel doctor, a biometric card, original civil documents, and a valid passport.

If everything is done correctly, the Consular Officer will approve the immigrant visa and stamp your parents’ passport with the visa. This immigrant visa lets your parents enter the United States as green card holders. Once your parents are in the United States, the government will mail them a green card and social security card to their U.S. address. Your parents’ green card allows them to live and work legally in the United States.

Parents of United States citizens are considered “Immediate Relatives.”  Therefore, if they are in the United States, they can apply for a green card concurrently to your petition. This process is called adjustment of status.

To apply for a green card for parents, your parents must submit Forms I-485 and I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) the applicable fees. This submission must also include all necessary evidence to evidence proving that your parents qualify for a green card. Once submitted, USCIS schedules an appointment to capture your parents’ fingerprints (biometrics). Once everything is processed, your parents may be interviewed by an Immigration Officer at the local USCIS office. If everything is done correctly, the Immigration Officer approves your parents’ application for a green card.  The physical card is then mailed to the applicant at their home address.