Am I Eligible?
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. As the sponsor of your parents, you must show that
your household income is sufficient to support your family and your
parents at 125% or more above the U.S. poverty level for your household
size. For more details about meeting this income requirement, see
Filing
an Affidavit of Support for a Relative.
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.
The Process
An immigrant (also called a "lawful permanent resident")
is a foreign national who has been granted the privilege of living
and working permanently in the United States. Your parents must go
through a multi-step process to become an immigrant. First, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must approve an immigrant petition
that you file for your parents. Second, the State Department must
give your parents an immigrant
visa number,
even if they are already in the United States. Third, if your parents
are already in the United States legally, they may apply to adjust
to permanent resident status.
If they are outside the United States, they will be notified to go
to the local
U.S. Consulate
to complete the processing for an immigrant visa.
How
Do I Apply?
To find
out how you can petition (apply) for your parents to live in the
United States permanently, please see Application
Procedures: Bringing My Parents to Live in the U.S.
Obtaining
an Immigrant Visa Number
If the immigrant visa petition is approved, an immigrant
visa number will be immediately available to your
parents.
Work
Permits
Your parents do not need to apply for a work permit once they are
admitted as an immigrant with their immigrant visa or have already
been approved for adjustment to permanent resident status. As a
legal permanent resident, your parents should receive Permanent
Resident Cards (commonly referred to as 'Green
Cards')
that will prove that they have a right to live and work
in the United States permanently. If your parents are now outside
the United States, they will receive a passport stamp upon arrival
in the United States. This stamp will prove that they are allowed
to work until a Permanent Resident Card is created.
If your parents
are in the U.S. and have applied to adjust to permanent resident
status (by filing USCIS Form
I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or
Adjust Status), they are eligible to apply for a work permit while
their case is pending. Your parents should use Form
I-765 to apply for a work permit (see Obtaining
a Work Permit
for more information).
Checking
My Application Status
Contact the USCIS office that received your application, and be prepared to provide
specific information (see Checking
the Status of My Case).
How
Can I Appeal?
If the
visa petition you filed for your parents is denied, the denial letter
will tell you how to appeal. Generally, you may appeal within 33
days of receiving the denial by mail. After your appeal form and
a required fee are processed, the appeal will be referred to the
Board of Immigration Appeals in Washington, D.C. For more information,
please see Appealing
the Denial of My Petition or Application.
HELP!
- Or, call the national USCIS toll-free
information service at 1-800-375-5283
- You may also
want to seek the advice of an immigration attorney, or an immigrant
assistance organization accredited
by the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Additional
Information & Links
For details on filing an immigrant visa petition for your parents,
see:
Application
Procedures: Bringing My Parents to Live in the United States
For details on sponsorship eligibility, including the income requirement,
see:
Filing an Affidavit of Support
for a Relative
For more details on adjusting to permanent resident status if your
parents are already in the United States, see:
Becoming a Permanent
Resident (Immigrant) While in the U.S.
If your parents are in the U.S. and want to work while their application
to adjust to permanent resident status is pending, see:
Obtaining a Work Permit
If your parents are in the U.S. and need to travel outside the U.S.
while their application to adjust to permanent resident status is
pending, see:
Have a Pending Immigration
Application? Beware of Foreign Travel.
For online forms and fee information, including fee waivers, see:
Forms, Fees & Filing Locations
If you are outside of the United States and need information regarding
immigrating to the United States, contact your nearest U.S. Consulate:
U.S. Consulate
& Embassy Website Locator
The information
provided in this website is not legal advice and should not be interpreted
as legal advice. This website is intended to provide a basic understanding
of this information in summary form. This information may not be
comprehensive, is subject to change, and may not apply to all individual
circumstances. Any information received here should be confirmed
with the appropriate government agencies or with an attorney, particularly
as it relates to your individual circumstances. Your use of this
website indicates your agreement to be bound by our Terms
of Use.
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