​​​​Parent of US Citizen living in the United States

If you are a U.S. citizen and your parent is already living in the United States, the process for obtaining a green card is called adjustment of status. In this process, your parent applies for a green card directly through USCIS, without involving a U.S. embassy or consulate.

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The adjustment of status process begins by filing a family petition, an adjustment of status application (green card application), an affidavit of support, and, if needed, an application for employment authorization with USCIS. There are no separate stages in this process. A parent of a U.S. citizen who is living in the United States may file all required applications concurrently at the same time.

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Filing a family petition is to prove that your relationship is bona fide. The goal is to show that your family relationship is genuine. 

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Filing an Adjustment of Status (AOS) application allows the applicant to change their non-immigrant visa status to permanent residency (green card). This process also demonstrates that you are a person of good moral character, with no immigration violations or criminal record. Generally, only those who entered the U.S. lawfully can adjust their status. However, exceptions may apply for individuals who entered without inspection, overstayed their authorized period, or worked without a permit.

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Submitting an Affidavit of Support shows that the applicant has a financial sponsor who can support them, ensuring they will not rely on public benefits. Typically, the U.S. citizen child serves as the sponsor. If the child does not earn enough or does not work, a joint sponsor can be used. A joint sponsor does not have to be a family member, but must be either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Tax records are often required to prove that the sponsor meets the income requirements.

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Because the green card process can take several months, applicants are often issued a work permit and Social Security card. This allows them to work legally and obtain other essential documents, like a driver’s license, while waiting for USCIS to approve their application. Whether an interview is required is somewhat random. In some cases, if the bona fide relationship can be convincingly demonstrated with documents, the interview may be waived. However, recent trends indicate that USCIS is more likely to schedule interviews for most applicants.

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Attorney Fee: $3000

✓ Green Card Processing Time: 5–14 months.

✓ Work Permit Processing Time: 2-6 months. 

✓ Payment plans available in up to three installments, with a 3% processing fee.

✓ Government filing fees are not included in the service fees.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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At Dream Immigration Law, we’ve helped countless families reunite and start their lives together in the U.S. Whether your parent is abroad or already here, we’re here to make the process clear, honest, and stress-free — every step of the way.