You may not have a traditional relationship with your parent, but you may still love them and treat them as if you were biologically related. However, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) upholds strict criteria for which familial relationships are eligible for green card sponsorship. First, you must be a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years old. Then, please follow along to find out what is considered a valid parent-child relationship to serve as a green card sponsor and how one of the proficient Fairfax County green card lawyers at Goel & Anderson can help you effectively prove this in your application paperwork.
What is a valid relationship for an adult child to sponsor a parent’s green card?
Of course, you may file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, to sponsor a green card for your biological parent. A copy of your birth certificate, which features your parents’ names, may easily confirm this. However, say your biological parents never got legally married, and your father’s name was not provided on your birth certificate. Well, you may have to take extra steps toward establishing this bona fide relationship. That is, there must be evidence of an emotional and financial bond before you turned 21.
An additional eligible relationship is that with an adoptive parent. For this, the legal adoption must have been finalized before your 16th birthday, simply proven through a copy of your adoption certificate. Then, proof that you spent at least two years under this parent’s legal and physical custody. Lastly, you may even attempt to get your stepparent a green card. This is so long as your stepparent married your biological parent before your 18th birthday, which can be confirmed by comparing your birth certificate with their marriage certificate.
How long does it take to get a green card through an adult child?
The good news is that your parent is classified as an immediate relative when you petition to sponsor their green card. There is no annual limit on visas in this high-priority category, which means your parent may experience a significantly reduced wait time compared to other family-based categories. Still, processing time may vary based on the USCIS’s workload, along with the United States Embassy’s schedule if your parent has to do consular processing while living abroad.
You maintain a certain level of control over how long this process will take, though. That is, you should make sure your forms are filled out correctly the first time so as not to cause any unnecessary delays. Also, you should respond to the USCIS’s requests for additional evidence or information as productively as possible. All the while, you should keep a watchful eye on your parent and ensure that they do not engage in any activity that would potentially make them ineligible for permanent resident status.
Even though you and your parents have each other, it does not hurt to get additional support during this very important legal process. So please, turn to one of the talented Fairfax County family immigration lawyers from Goel & Anderson. We would love to help make your dream of living together in the U.S. come true.
