👪 If you’re a U.S. citizen age 21 or older, you may sponsor your foreign-born parents for permanent residence in the U.S. under the IR5 visa category.
This family-based green card process allows parents to live and work in the U.S. permanently and does not require waiting for a visa number—making it one of the fastest immigration paths available.
What Is the IR5 Visa?
The IR5 is an Immediate Relative immigrant visa for the parents of U.S. citizens. Unlike other family-based categories, there is no cap or annual limit, which means shorter waiting times.
Who Is Eligible?
✅ Sponsor (Child)
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Must be a U.S. citizen (not green card holder)
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Must be at least 21 years old
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Must show sufficient income to financially support the parent(s)
✅ Parent (Applicant)
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Must be the biological or legal adoptive parent
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Must reside outside the U.S. (if applying through consular processing)
Required Documents
📄 For the U.S. Citizen Petitioner:
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Proof of U.S. citizenship (passport or naturalization certificate)
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Birth certificate showing parental relationship
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Form I-864 Affidavit of Support
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Proof of income (tax returns, pay stubs)
📄 For the Parent:
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Valid passport
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Civil documents (birth, marriage, divorce if applicable)
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Medical exam (by a USCIS-approved doctor)
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Police certificates from home country and any country lived in for over 6 months
Step-by-Step Process
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Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)
Filed by the U.S. citizen to establish the parent-child relationship. -
USCIS Approval
Once approved, the case is forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC). -
Visa Application (DS-260)
Parent fills out the immigrant visa application. -
Interview at U.S. Embassy or Consulate
Parent attends consular interview and submits documents. -
Green Card Issued Upon Entry
Once approved, parent enters the U.S. and receives green card in the mail.
Processing Time
⏱️ The IR5 visa is not subject to visa quotas, so total processing time ranges from 10 to 14 months, depending on USCIS and embassy backlogs.
Key Considerations
🧑⚕️ Medical Insurance
New green card holders should get private health insurance to avoid high U.S. healthcare costs.
💼 Work Authorization
Parents can legally work in the U.S. once they receive the green card.
🧑⚖️ No Derivative Benefits
The IR5 visa is for individual parents only—you must file a separate petition for each parent.
How BorderlessLawyers Can Help
👨⚖️ Our services include:
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Eligibility screening and age verification
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Filing Form I-130 and Affidavit of Support
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Coordinating with NVC and embassy
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Preparing for the consular interview
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Handling issues such as lost documents or inadmissibility concerns
FAQs
Q: Can a green card holder sponsor a parent?
No. Only U.S. citizens aged 21+ can sponsor parents.
Q: My parent is already in the U.S. on a visitor visa—can we adjust status?
Yes, as long as they entered legally and have not violated their stay. Consult us first.
Q: What if I was adopted?
Only legal adoptions finalized before the age of 16 qualify for parent sponsorship.
Keep Your Parents Close—Permanently
At BorderlessLawyers, we support families who want to reunite across borders. Our team helps you sponsor your parents with clarity, speed, and full legal care.