How do I bring my parents to live permanently in the US?

US citizens can sponsor their parents for a green card as immediate relatives. Parents of US citizens face no annual visa cap, which means visa numbers are always available and the wait is primarily USCIS and consular processing time rather than a queue wait. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) cannot sponsor parents; only US citizens can.

To start, the US citizen child (who must be at least 21 years old) files Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) for each parent. After approval, the case goes to the National Visa Center and then to the US consulate for an immigrant visa interview. If the parent is already in the US in valid status, they can file Form I-485 to adjust status without leaving.

Once admitted as a permanent resident, the parent receives a 10-year green card and may apply for citizenship after five years of residence. Parents on green cards are generally not eligible for certain federal benefits in their first five years. For parents who want to visit without immigrating, a B-2 tourist visa or the ESTA program may be more appropriate while the green card process is underway.

This is general information only, not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration lawyer or registered migration agent for your specific situation.