Permanent Resident Child Sponsorship

Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) in the United States can sponsor their children for immigration through the F2A and F2B visa categories. This process requires careful preparation of documentation and patience, as the processing time can be lengthy. The article below provides detailed information about the requirements, procedures, and important considerations to help you proactively prepare your sponsorship application.

Can a Parent with a Green Card (Lawful Permanent Resident) Sponsor Their Child?

A parent who holds a green card (lawful permanent resident) can sponsor their child who is under 21 or over 21 and unmarried. Lawful permanent residents can sponsor their children through two visa categories:

• F2A Category: Unmarried children under 21 years old. The average waiting time for the F2A category is about 2–3 years.
• F2B Category: Unmarried children over 21 years old. The average waiting time for the F2B category is about 8–9 years (depending on the visa bulletin).

Sponsorship Requirements

To sponsor their children, lawful permanent residents must meet the following requirements:

• Legal status: Must possess a valid green card.
• Family relationship: Must prove the child is a biological child or legally adopted child through documents such as a birth certificate or adoption certificate (if applicable).
• Financial ability: Must demonstrate sufficient income to financially support the child, typically based on the minimum income guidelines issued by USCIS. If the sponsor cannot meet the income requirement, a joint sponsor may be used.
• No legal violations: Must not have criminal records or immigration-related legal issues.

The sponsored child must also not have communicable diseases as defined by U.S. immigration health regulations and must not have serious criminal records.

Required Documents for a Green Card Child Sponsorship Case

1. Form I-130 – Petition for Alien Relative.

2. Form I-864 – Affidavit of Support.

3. Form DS-260 – Immigrant Visa Application.

4. Copy of the sponsor’s valid green card or immigrant visa with entry stamp.

5. Copy of the child’s birth certificate.

6. Parents’ marriage certificate (if applicable).

7. Divorce decree or relevant legal documents of the sponsored beneficiary (if applicable).

8. Proof of financial ability to support the beneficiary, such as tax returns, pay stubs, or business registration documents.

9. Name change documents of the sponsor or beneficiary (if applicable).

Important Note: For green card holders sponsoring their children, the child must be unmarried. If the child gets married while the petition is pending—whether under 21 or over 21—the case will be automatically terminated as soon as the marriage certificate is issued. Even if the couple later divorces, the petition will remain cancelled.

FOR A FREE CONSULTATION, PLEASE CALL:

– Garden Grove Office: (877) 348-7869
– San Jose Office: (408) 998-5555
– Houston Office: (832) 353-3535
– Vietnam Office: (028) 3516-2118