Can I Sponsor My Parents for a Green Card If I Am a US Citizen?

 Posted on November 19, 2025 in Green Cards

Many people who become US citizens dream of bringing their parents to live with them permanently. After years of being separated or only seeing family during short visits, the chance to have your parents nearby might feel like finally completing your journey. The good news is that US citizens can sponsor their parents for green cards. The process has specific requirements, but it is one of the more straightforward paths to family reunification.

Understanding how parent sponsorship works helps you plan ahead and avoid mistakes that could delay the process. Knowing what documents you need, how much money you must show, and how long it takes can make the difference between a smooth process and years of frustration. Our San Francisco immigration attorneys can help you with all of this. Call us at 214-506-0671 today. 

Do You Have to Be a Certain Age to Sponsor Your Parents?

You must be at least 21 years old to petition for your parents. This age requirement is set by the Immigration and Nationality Act Section 201(b). If you are a US citizen but under 21, you need to wait until your 21st birthday to file the petition.

Your citizenship status matters too. Only US citizens can sponsor parents for green cards. If you are a green card holder yourself, you cannot petition for your parents. You would need to become a citizen first through naturalization.

What Forms Do You Need to File to Sponsor a Parent’s Green Card?

The process starts with Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. You file one I-130 for each parent. If you are sponsoring both your mother and father, you need two separate petitions. Each petition requires its own filing fee.

You need to prove your relationship to your parents. This means providing your birth certificate showing their names as your parents. You also need to prove your US citizenship with a passport, naturalization certificate, or birth certificate if you were born in the United States.

Your parents will need to provide need birth certificates, passports, and photos. If either parent was previously married, they need divorce decrees or death certificates to prove the prior marriage ended.

What Are the Income Requirements of Sponsoring Your Parents’ Green Cards?

Sponsoring your parents means taking financial responsibility for them. You must file Form I-864, Affidavit of Support. This form proves you earn enough money to support your parents at 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

The income requirement depends on your household size. If you are single with no children and sponsoring both parents, you need income for a household of three people. If you are married with two kids and sponsoring both parents, you need income for six people.

For 2025, the federal poverty guideline for a household of three is $26,650. At 125 percent, you need to show income of at least $33,312.50. These numbers increase with household size and change each year.

If you do not earn enough, you can use a joint sponsor. This is someone else who is a US citizen or green card holder and meets the income requirements. You can also count assets like property, savings, or investments if they equal at least five times the difference between your income and the required amount.

What If My Parents Do Not Speak English? Can They Still Get a Green Card? 

Your parents’ language should not stop you from bringing your parents to the United States. All interviews at US embassies and consulates provide interpreters at no cost. USCIS offices also have interpretation services available.

Working with an immigration attorney who speaks your language makes the process much easier. You can explain your situation in your own words and make sure nothing gets lost in translation. Having documents translated properly is also important for a successful application.

Call a Bay Area, CA Immigration Attorney Today

Family reunification is one of the most important benefits of US citizenship. Bringing your parents to live with you permanently can be possible when you know the requirements and follow the process correctly. 

Contact Hafey & Karim at 214-506-0671 to discuss sponsoring your parents for green cards. Our San Francisco, CA immigration lawyers speak English and Bengali and have translators available for Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu. We focus on helping South Asian and Muslim families navigate the immigration system and reunite with their loved ones. Let us help you bring your parents home.