How to Bring Your Parents to the USA with a Green Card: What You Need to Know

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Unfortunately, Green Card holders (lawful permanent residents) cannot directly sponsor their parents for a Green Card. Only U.S. citizens are eligible to sponsor their parents for permanent residency. If you are a Green Card holder and want to bring your parents to the U.S., you will need to wait until you become a U.S. citizen before you can sponsor them.

However, as a Green Card holder, there may still be other options to bring your parents to the U.S. temporarily through a visitor visa, although this does not provide permanent residency.

2. Sponsoring Parents as a U.S. Citizen

If you are a U.S. citizen, you can file a petition to sponsor your parents for a Green Card. This process allows your parents to live, work, and travel freely in the U.S. as lawful permanent residents. The process typically takes less time than other family-based Green Card categories because there is no visa cap for parents of U.S. citizens.

Here’s how you can sponsor your parents as a U.S. citizen:

Eligibility Requirements for Sponsorship

U.S. citizenship: You must be at least 21 years old and a U.S. citizen to sponsor your parents.
Proof of relationship: You must provide documentation, such as birth certificates or adoption papers, proving that you are the child of the parents you wish to sponsor.
Financial support: You must meet the income requirements to show that you can financially support your parents and ensure they do not rely on public benefits.

As a Green Card holder, you must become a U.S. citizen before you can sponsor your parents for a Green Card. Here’s how to do that:

Step 1: Meet Eligibility for U.S. Citizenship

To become a U.S. citizen through naturalization, you must:

Be a Green Card holder for at least 5 years (or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen).
Have lived in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the last 5 years.
Show good moral character.
Pass the U.S. citizenship test.

Step 2: File Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization)

Submit Form N-400 to apply for U.S. citizenship. Once approved and after attending the naturalization ceremony, you will officially become a U.S. citizen.

Once you are a U.S. citizen, you can file Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to sponsor your parents for a Green Card.

4. What If You’re a Green Card Holder and Want Your Parents to Visit?

While Green Card holders cannot sponsor their parents for a Green Card, they can still invite their parents to visit the U.S. temporarily using a B-2 Visitor Visa. This visa allows parents to visit the U.S. for short periods, such as for tourism or family visits, but it does not grant permanent residency.

B-2 Visitor Visa for Parents

Purpose: The B-2 Visa is for temporary visits, usually for tourism or visiting family members.
Duration: Parents can stay for up to 6 months on each visit, and an extension of up to 6 additional months may be requested.
Process: Your parents must apply for a B-2 Visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country and attend an interview.

While this option allows your parents to visit, they must return to their home country after their authorized stay.

5. Green Card vs. B-2 Visa for Parents

Here’s a comparison between bringing your parents to the U.S. permanently with a Green Card versus temporarily with a B-2 Visa:

Criteria	Green Card (Permanent Residency)	B-2 Visitor Visa (Temporary Stay)
Eligibility	Only U.S. citizens can sponsor parents	Both U.S. citizens and Green Card holders can invite parents
Duration	Permanent stay, eligible for U.S. citizenship later	Temporary stay (up to 6 months, extendable)
Work authorization	Parents can work and live freely	No work allowed; strictly for visiting purposes
Healthcare access	Eligible for U.S. healthcare benefits	No access to U.S. public healthcare programs

6. How to Help Your Parents During Their Visit

If your parents visit the U.S. on a B-2 Visa, there are ways you can make their stay more comfortable:

Travel insurance: Since your parents won’t have access to U.S. public healthcare, purchasing travel insurance is recommended to cover any medical emergencies.
Support with accommodations: Help secure temporary housing, whether in your home or through rental accommodations.
Extended stays: If they need more time, you can help your parents apply for an extension on their B-2 Visa, allowing them to stay for up to an additional six months.

7. Future Sponsorship Possibilities After Becoming a U.S. Citizen

Once you become a U.S. citizen, you can file for your parents’ Green Card, and the process is relatively straightforward compared to other family sponsorship categories. There is no annual cap or visa lottery, so the waiting time is generally shorter.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Form I-130: This petition establishes your relationship with your parents.
Affidavit of Support (Form I-864): You must show you can support your parents financially.
Consular processing: If your parents are abroad, they will go through consular processing in their home country before receiving a visa.

Conclusion

If you’re a Green Card holder, you cannot sponsor your parents for permanent residency in the U.S. However, you can invite them for temporary stays using a B-2 Visitor Visa. Once you become a U.S. citizen, you will be eligible to sponsor your parents for a Green Card, allowing them to live permanently in the U.S. Keep in mind that gaining U.S. citizenship first is key to unlocking this pathway for your parents.