Parent Petition · Form I-130
Bring your parent home. Start here.
As a U.S. citizen, you have the legal right to petition for your parent to become a permanent resident. CitizenKit prepares your complete I-130 petition packet — so you can mail it to USCIS with confidence.
- Built on official USCIS.gov guidance
- Plain-language, step-by-step
- No visa backlog — parents are immediate relatives
- No attorney fees required
Eligibility
Who this kit is designed for
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You are a U.S. citizen
Only U.S. citizens — not Green Card holders — can petition for a parent. You must have citizenship, not just permanent residency.
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You are at least 21 years old
U.S. citizens under 21 cannot file a parent petition. You must be at least 21 at the time of filing.
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A qualifying parent-child relationship exists
Biological, stepparent (marriage occurred before your 18th birthday), or adoptive (adoption finalized before your 16th birthday with custody requirements met).
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Your parent is living outside the United States
This kit is for consular processing. If your parent is inside the US, the Adjustment of Status (AOS) path may be more appropriate.
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You can document the parent-child relationship
Primarily through birth certificates and, depending on the relationship type, marriage certificates and other records.
The Process
From petition to permanent residency
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You Prepare and Mail the I-130 Petition
You file Form I-130 to establish the parent-child relationship and confirm your U.S. citizenship as the petitioner. You select consular processing on the form since your parent is abroad. CitizenKit prepares the complete packet — correctly filled form, supporting documents in order, and comprehensive filing instructions — ready to mail to USCIS.
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Gather and Organize Your Supporting Documents
Along with the form, USCIS requires documents that prove the parent-child relationship and your U.S. citizenship. CitizenKit gives you a personalized document checklist based on your specific relationship type — biological, stepparent, or adoptive.
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USCIS Reviews & Approves Your Petition
USCIS issues a receipt notice confirming they have your petition, then reviews and approves it. Parents of U.S. citizens are immediate relatives — no annual visa cap, no priority date wait. Processing typically takes 17–24 months.
After filing — no waiting list for parents of U.S. citizens.
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Case Moves to the National Visa Center (NVC)
USCIS forwards your approved petition to the NVC, which collects the required immigrant visa fees and documents — including your Affidavit of Support (I-864) and your parent's DS-260 immigrant visa application.
After USCIS approval.
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Immigrant Visa Interview at a US Embassy
Once the NVC is satisfied with the documents, your parent is scheduled for an immigrant visa interview at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. A consular officer reviews the petition and your parent's admissibility.
After NVC processing.
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Your Parent Arrives & Receives a Permanent Green Card
Your parent travels to the US on their immigrant visa and is admitted as a permanent resident upon arrival. Their full 10-year Green Card is mailed to your address within a few weeks — no conditions, no follow-up filing.
After consular approval.
The CitizenKit
Your complete petition packet, ready to mail.
Relationship-Specific Document Checklist
Personalized for biological, stepparent, or adoptive parent relationships — so the right documents are in your packet from the start.
I-130 Pre-Filled and Correct
Populated from your questionnaire answers, with consular processing selected and the correct mailing address for your filing location.
Organized, Mail-Ready Packet
Cover sheet, completed form, document checklist, sign-here guide, and the correct USCIS mailing address — all in order.
Comprehensive Filing Instructions
Step-by-step guidance for finalizing, signing, organizing, and mailing your petition to USCIS.
Translation Guidance
Clearly identifies which documents need certified English translations and what a proper translation certification must include.
Post-Approval Roadmap
A guide to the NVC stage, the I-864 Affidavit of Support, the DS-260 immigrant visa application, and the consular interview process.
FAQ
Common questions about the parent I-130
- How long does the I-130 parent petition take?
- Parents of U.S. citizens are immediate relatives, which means there is no annual visa cap and no priority date wait. USCIS I-130 processing for parent petitions currently takes approximately 17–24 months. After USCIS approves the petition, the National Visa Center (NVC) stage and consular interview add additional time.
- Do I need to be at least 21 to file for my parent?
- Yes. You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years old at the time you file the I-130 petition. Green Card holders cannot petition for a parent at all — only U.S. citizens can.
- What types of parent-child relationships qualify?
- Biological parent-child relationships always qualify. Stepparents qualify if the marriage creating the step relationship occurred before your 18th birthday. Adoptive parents qualify if the adoption was finalized before your 16th birthday and certain residence and custody requirements were met. CitizenKit provides a personalized document checklist based on your specific relationship type.
- What happens after USCIS approves the I-130?
- USCIS forwards your approved petition to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC collects the required immigrant visa fees, your Affidavit of Support (I-864), and your parent's DS-260 immigrant visa application. Once the NVC is satisfied, they schedule your parent's immigrant visa interview at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. CitizenKit includes a post-approval roadmap for this stage.
- Will my parent receive a conditional or full Green Card?
- Parents of U.S. citizens receive a full 10-year permanent Green Card upon arrival in the United States. The conditional 2-year card only applies to spouses. No follow-up filing is required for parents.
Ready to bring your parent home?
Take the free Kit Finder Quiz to confirm this is the right kit for your situation.