Family Green Card (Parents & Children)

Can I sponsor my parents or children for a green card?

Yes. U.S. citizens can sponsor their parents and their children for permanent residence, and in most of these cases there's no waiting line for a visa to become available — which makes them some of the faster family cases. Exactly how it works depends on who you're sponsoring and whether they're already in the United States or still abroad.

Sponsoring your parents

If you're a U.S. citizen at least 21 years old, you can petition for your mother or father. If a parent is abroad, the case goes through the U.S. consulate in their country; if a parent is already here on a valid status, they may be able to get their green card without leaving. I'll help you figure out which road applies and prepare the whole case.

Sponsoring your children

The rules turn on your child's age and marital status, and whether you're a citizen or a green card holder. A citizen's unmarried child under 21 is treated as an "immediate relative" with no waiting line; older children, married children, and the children of green card holders fall into categories that can involve a wait. Children's cases also have some traps around age — a child can "age out" and lose their spot — so timing matters. I'll sort out which category your child fits and move the case accordingly.

Sponsoring your widowed self

If you were married to a U.S. citizen who passed away, you may still be able to get a green card as their widow or widower, even though your spouse is gone — and even if a petition was never filed before their death. There are deadlines that matter here, so if this is your situation, reach out sooner rather than later and I'll tell you where you stand.

Who qualifies?

• You're a U.S. citizen (or, for some children's cases, a green card holder) sponsoring a qualifying relative.

• The family relationship is real and can be documented — birth certificates, marriage records, and the like.

• The relative is otherwise admissible to the United States.

2026 update. If your relative is applying from inside the U.S., USCIS now treats that as discretionary - an officer can agree the case qualifies and still deny it, pointing the applicant to a consulate abroad instead. New public charge guidance also applies to applications filed on or after September 18, 2026. And a 2025 memo means a denial can lead to a Notice to Appear in immigration court where the applicant is out of status at the time of the denial. All three are explained on my Policy Updates page, including what they mean for a case that is already filed. 

What I do for you

I handle the full case: confirming eligibility, choosing the right path, preparing every form and the supporting evidence, and getting you ready for the interview. Twenty-five years at this, for clients across the country, entirely online. Filipino spoken.

How much does a family green card cost?

My fee is approximately $1,750-$2,750, plus the government's filing fees. Low, predictable fees, with discounts in some situations — just ask.