IR5 Green Card: For Parents of U.S. Citizens

The IR5 green card allows U.S. citizens to sponsor their foreign-born parents for lawful permanent residency. It is part of the immediate relative family-based category, meaning there are no annual quotas or waiting lists.

Who qualifies?

• The sponsor must be a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years old.
• The beneficiary must be the biological or adoptive parent of the sponsor.

Permanent residents (green card holders) cannot sponsor their parents — only U.S. citizens can.

Application process:

1. The U.S. citizen files Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with USCIS.
2. Once approved, the case goes to the National Visa Center (NVC) for consular processing.
3. The parent submits civil documents, attends a medical exam, and goes to a U.S. embassy interview.
4. Upon approval, the IR5 immigrant visa is issued, and the parent becomes a permanent resident upon entry.

Parents applying from within the U.S. may be eligible to file Form I-485 if they entered lawfully and have no status violations.

Documents needed:

• Birth certificate of the U.S. citizen child
• Proof of U.S. citizenship (passport or naturalization certificate)
• Proof of relationship (birth certificate or adoption decree)
• Affidavit of Support (Form I-864)

Processing times vary, but IR5 is one of the fastest green card options due to its uncapped nature. Once approved, the parent receives a 10-year green card with full benefits.