Having to live away from your family is distressing and disheartening at the same time. Your parents have to constantly worry about you, while you keep planning to visit them. All of this can be resolved once you sponsor your parents for green cards.As long as you are a US citizen, sponsorship of your parents is permitted.
So, reunite with your family and build your life together. No more waiting, planning and delaying. Learn more about the process of obtaining a green card and parents green card processing time in this blog.
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You Are a US Citizen
However, if you are a US citizen, you can sponsor your parents for a green card. If you follow the rules stipulated by the USCIS, your parents will be able to get their green cards within the standard processing time. Parents fall in the Immediate Relatives category for the visa application, and thus receive higher priority.
Parents are in the US
- If parents are already in the US at the time of the consideration to apply for a green card, then they are eligible for Adjustment of Status.
- You have to file the Form I-130, that is the Petition for Alien Relative. As parents fall in the Immediate Relatives category, they can file the Form I-485 simultaneously to save time. Typically, for both forms to be processed it can take anywhere between eight months to fourteen months.
- After submitting the forms, you will need to book a biometrics appointment. Next, you will have to book an interview at the USCIS office near you.
Processing Time
The entire process from the date you filed the Form I-130, it can take 12 to 18 months for your parents to receive green cards.
Parents live Outside of US
If your parents live outside the US and at the time of application reside in a foreign country, then the application process will differ. It will involve Consular Processing.
- The first step is filing the Form I-130 along with the proof of relationship and supporting documents.
- Once the form has been processed, your case will be transferred to the National Visa Center. Some more supporting documents can be asked. And the entire process here can take up to half a year.
- Both Biometrics Appointment and Interview will follow the Consular Processing. For them, the parents will have to visit the local embassy or consulate.
Processing Time
The Consular Processing can take 12 to 20 months in its entirety. However, the time can vary depending upon the documents, the workload at the embassy or consulate and some other factors.
You Are a Legal Permanent Resident
If you are a green card holder, you cannot sponsor your parents for green cards. To be able to sponsor your parents, you must first become a US citizen.
Therefore, first of all, you must hold your green card for five years, or three years if married to a US citizen. Then you will become eligible to apply for Naturalization. So, if you are a green card holder, expect five years, or three if married to a US citizen, more on top of the processing time.
Factors that Affect Timeline
- Office Workload: This is one of the major factors that affect the overall processing time. Workload, backlogs and pending cases at the office can make your application take longer to be approved. For parents in the US, the factoring office is the USCIS, and for parents outside of the US, it is the local embassy or consulate.
- Location of the Office: This is a subcategory of office workload. A USCIS office or an embassy in a busy area of a metropolitan city would obviously have rather large workload and backlogs.
- Background of the Applicants: A clear background of the applicants makes for a swifter application processing. On the other hand, if your parents have any past indictments, visa violations, or charges, then it can lead to application refusal or take longer to process.
- Documentation: Documentation is another critical element that determines the speed of processing. Incorrect documents or incomplete details may impact your petition.
Final Thoughts
Finally, you no longer have to live apart from your own family. You can take care of your parents, live with them, and create new memories in the land of opportunities. If you are a US citizen, then you can sponsor your parents for green cards. Documitra has helped applicants successfully get their green cards, time and again. With a team of expert professionals, we make sure that your documents and overall application has no mistakes, so you get faster results. So, why wait any longer? Apply for a green card USA for your parent now with Documitra.
FAQs
Q. What is the parents green card processing time in 2026?
The processing time to obtain a green card depends on various key factors. The primary is whether you are a US citizen or a Green Card holder.
For a US citizen, to obtain a green card for parents who are currently in the US, it can take 12 to 18 months. While for parents who live outside the US, it can take 12 to 20 months.
As a Green Card holder, one cannot sponsor his or her parents for green cards. To do so, the Green Card holder must first become a US citizen.
Q. What can influence the timeline to get a green card for a parent?
Many things can impact the time taken to process an application for a green card for your parents, including workload at the office, backlogs, applicant’s background, wrong documentations, etc.
Q. I am a Green Card holder, can I sponsor my parents for green cards?
No, as a Green Card holder, you are not eligible to sponsor your parents. For that, you will have to obtain US citizenship first.
Q. How long does Consular Processing take to get a green card?
The Consular Processing can take 12 to 20 months. However, the timeline is subject to change depending upon the location of the embassy or consulate, the workload and backlogs.
