Last updated: November 9, 2025.
By Asel Williams, Esq. · Columbia Law School · Licensed immigration attorney
- IR-5 is an immigrant green card category that includes parents of US citizens
- US citizen must be at least 21 years old to sponsor a parent for permanent residency
- IR-5 is an immediate relative category which means that immigrant visas are always available
- If parent is located outside the U.S., they can apply for Consular Processing
- If parent is in the U.S., they can apply for Adjustment of Status
What is an IR-5 Visa (Parent Green Card)?
An IR-5 visa is a family-based green card that grants lawful permanent resident status to parents of U.S. citizens.
IR stands for “Immediate Relative” of US citizens.
While some visa types have yearly caps and priority dates IR visas do not have these limitations.
This means that once Form I-130 filed by the US citizen is approved, a parent can immediately apply for an immigrant visa.
If parent of a US citizen is physically present in the U.S., they can file Forms I-130 (family petition) and I-485 (green card application) concurrently.
IR-5 Parent Green Card Eligibility Requirements
Before you even begin the process of applying for the IR-5 visa, let’s make sure you or your parents will be eligible.
A U.S. citizen who wants to sponsor his or her parents is called a “Petitioner”. Parents are the “Beneficiaries”.
The following criteria must be met to successfully apply for an IR-5 visa:
- The sponsor must be a U.S. citizen
- The U.S. citizen sponsor must be at least 21 years old
- The U.S. citizen sponsor must be able to prove that they have the financial means to support their beneficiaries (parents)
- The U.S. citizen sponsor must reside in the U.S. (domiciled)
- The U.S. citizen sponsor must prove their relationship with their parents by providing a valid birth certificate (for mother), plus parents’ marriage certificate (for father)
How to Apply for IR-5 Parent Green Card
First things first, the U.S. citizen sponsor must petition on the parents’ behalf.
To do this, the sponsor must file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.
What other forms can or cannot be filed with the Form I-130 depend on whether the parents are located inside the U.S. or outside the U.S.
Parents Physically Present in the U.S. (“Adjustment of Status”)
If the parents are already in the U.S. through lawful entry (such as B-1/B-2 tourist visa), the process of applying for a parent green card is called “Concurrent Adjustment of Status” (AOS).
Before your parent applies for permanent residency, make sure that he/she complies with the 90-Day Rule.
In this case, your parents will obtain green cards in the U.S. No visa will be issued.
Lawful entry means that the parents were inspected by an immigration officer, had a valid entry visa and received authorization to stay in the U.S. at an inspection checkpoint.
Parents who have entered the U.S. by means of lawful entry are often tourist visitors (B-1 and B-2) visas.
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative is a twelve-page USCIS form which consists of nine sections:
- Part 1: Relationship (You, the U.S. citizen or the green card holder are the Petitioner. Your relative is the Beneficiary)
- Part 2: Information About You (Petitioner)
- Part 3: Biographic Information (Petitioner)
- Part 4: Information About Beneficiary (relative seeking the green card)
- Part 5: Other information
- Part 6: Petitioner’s Statement, Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature
- Part 7: Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature
- Part 8: Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Affidavit, if Other Than the Petitioner
- Part 9: Additional Information
Parents of US citizens do not have to wait for Form I-130 to be approved before they can file their green card applications.
Therefore, Forms I-130 and I-485 can be filed together (concurrently) at the same time if the parents are physically present in the U.S.
The following immigration forms must be filed if parent is in the U.S.:
- Form I-130 (mandatory) – this form is filed to establish a valid parent-child relationship
- Form I-485 (mandatory) – this form is filed to change status from nonimmigrant visa to permanent residency
- Form I-864 (mandatory) – this form is filed to prove that the US citizen has enough financial resources to support the parent
- Form I-765 (Employment Authorization Document, optional) – file this form if you want your parent to obtain a work permit
- Form I-131 (Advance Parole, optional) – file this form if you want your parent to have an authorization to travel outside the US while their green card application is pending
Parents Outside the U.S. (“Consular Processing”)
If parents are located abroad, they will apply for immigrant visas at the US Embassy/Consulate. This process is called consular processing.
In this case, your parents will be issued immigrant visas that allow them to enter the U.S.
Green cards will be mailed to your parents after they enter the U.S.
The sponsor must first file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.
Once Form I-130 is approved by USCIS, the National Visa Center (NVC) will process the immigrant application (DS-260).
After NVC sends you an email with further instructions, the following steps must be completed:
- Pay Fees – Your sponsored family member will be required to pay the DS-260 Fee ($325) and Affidavit of Support Fee ($120);
- Submit Immigration Visa Application – Your sponsored family member will be required to complete and upload Form DS-260, Immigration Visa & Alien Registration Application;
- Submit Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) and supporting documents;
- Submit civil documents – Your sponsored family member will be required to upload their civil documents (birth certificate, passport, police certificate, etc.) to their NVC account.
- Pay USCIS Immigrant Fee – After a visa is issued, pay $235 online
IR-5 Visa Fees
The cost of applying for an IR-5 visa or green card for parents depends on whether the beneficiaries are inside the U.S. or outside the U.S.
The cost of applying for a family-based green card inside the U.S. is $2,065-$3,005 + medical examination fee.
The cost of applying for a family-based green card outside the U.S. is $1,395-$1,355 + medical examination fee.
Government fees are subject to change.
Keep in mind, these expenses do not include required medical examination fees.
Below, you can find a breakdown of the government fees.
For AOS (Adjustment of Status) inside the U.S., the following fees must be paid:
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative: $625 (if filing online), or $675 (if filing by mail)
- Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Resident Status or Adjust Status: $1,440
- Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (optional): $260
- Form I-131, Application for Travel Document (optional, Advance Parole): $630
- Required Medical Examination Fee: Varies (est. $200-$600)
For consular processing outside the U.S., the following fees must be paid:
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative:
- $625 (if filing online), or $675 (if filing by mail)
- Affidavit of Support fee: $120
- State Department Processing Fee: $325
- USCIS Immigrant Fee: $235
- Required Medical Examination Fee: Varies
Processing Time for Form I-130 (Parents)
The time it takes to process form I-130 is dependent on three main factors:
- Whether the relative is currently inside or outside of the U.S.;
- Which USCIS office and/or U.S. Embassy is processing the application;
- If the application is filed correctly and all supporting documents are submitted.
It currently takes about 12 to 18 months to process an application for a parent of a U.S. citizen living in the U.S.
For parents living outside of the U.S., it can take 2-3 years to complete the consular processing.
The following table depicts current I-130 processing time based on the application center.
| Application Center | Processing Time |
| Nebraska Service Center | 5 months to 7 months |
| Texas Service Center | 11 months to 15 months |
| Potomac Service Center | 12 months to 16 months |
| Vermont Service Center | 14.5 months to 18 months |
| California Service Center | 8.5 months to 11 months |
Source: Current USCIS processing times of I-130 applications.
Parent Green Card Documents Checklist
The following table shows the required documents for completing the green card application through AOS for parents who have already entered the U.S.:
General Document Checklist for Parents Applying From In the U.S. (Adjustment of Status)
| Type of document | Examples of documents | Who provides it |
| Proof of relationship between child sponsor and parent(s) |
|
Petitioner |
| Proof of the child sponsor’s U.S. citizenship | One of the following:
|
Petitioner |
| Six passport-sized photos |
|
Beneficiary(ies) |
| Copy of government-issued ID that includes a photograph |
|
Petitioner and Beneficiary(ies) |
| Copy of passport |
|
Beneficiary(ies) |
| I-94 form |
|
Beneficiary(ies) |
| Copy of birth certificate |
|
Beneficiary(ies) |
| Form I-864, Affidavit of Support |
|
Petitioner |
| Form I-693, Medical form |
|
Beneficiary(ies) |
| Legal name change documents (if applicable) |
|
Petitioner and Beneficiary(ies) |
| Termination of prior marriage (if applicable) |
|
Beneficiary(ies) |
| Criminal records (if applicable) |
|
Beneficiary(ies) |
| English translation |
|
Petitioner and Beneficiary(ies) |
If your parents are completing the IR-5 visa application from outside the U.S., the following list shows the required documents for consular processing:
General Document Checklist for Parents Applying From Outside the U.S. (Consular Processing)
| Type of document | Examples of documents | Who provides it |
| Proof of relationship between child sponsor and parent(s) |
|
Petitioner |
| Proof of U.S. citizenship | One of the following:
|
Petitioner |
| Proof of U.S. domicile |
|
Petitioner |
| Proof of nationality |
|
Beneficiary(ies) |
| Proof of adoption (if adoptive parent(s)) |
|
Beneficiary(ies) |
| Proof of marriage |
|
Beneficiary(ies) |
| Proof of dissolution of prior marriage(s) |
|
Beneficiary(ies) |
| Proof of police clearance |
|
Beneficiary(ies) |
| U.S. passport style photograph (electronic format) |
|
Beneficiary(ies) |
| Form I-864, Affidavit of Support |
|
Petitioner |
| English translation |
|
Petitioner and Beneficiary(ies) |
Keep in mind that if U.S. citizen petitioner is applying for their father and the petitioner was born out of wedlock, the additional evidence will be required (see below):
Father Applying With a Sponsoring Child Born Out of Wedlock
| Type of document | Examples of Acceptable Documents |
| Parents’ marriage certificate |
|
| Proof that Petitioner was legitimated before reaching 18 years of age |
|
| Proof of father’s emotional or financial bond to sponsoring child before being married or turning 21 |
|
IR-5 Visa Minimum Income Requirements
U.S. citizen sponsoring their parents for IR-5 visa must meet the minimum income requirements to successfully complete the immigration process.
The U.S. citizen sponsor must also sign Form I-864, Affidavit of Support as a commitment to the U.S. government to financially support his or her parents.
Upon signature by the sponsor, the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support becomes a legally binding contract between the sponsor and the U.S. government.
In the U.S. there are set income numbers that determine whether a household is above or below the poverty line (Form I-864P, “Poverty Guidelines”).
Keep in mind that these guidelines are solely based on the sponsor’s annual income. Poverty Guidelines are updated every year in March-April.
It’s also important to note that if you live in Alaska or Hawaii, the poverty guidelines are higher than the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia.
2025 Poverty Guidelines based on petitioner’s household size and location
For the 48 Contiguous States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands:
| Sponsor’s Household Size | 100% of HHS Poverty Guidelines* | 125% of HHS Poverty Guidelines* |
|---|---|---|
| For sponsors on active duty in the U.S. armed forces who are petitioning for their spouse or child | For all other sponsors | |
| 2 | $21,150 | $26,437 |
| 3 | $26,650 | $33,312 |
| 4 | $32,150 | $40,187 |
| 5 | $37,650 | $47,062 |
| 6 | $43,150 | $53,937 |
| 7 | $48,650 | $60,812 |
| 8 | $54,150 | $67,687 |
| Add $5,500 for each additional person | Add $6,875 for each additional person |
For Alaska:
| Sponsor’s Household Size | 100% of HHS Poverty Guidelines* | 125% of HHS Poverty Guidelines* |
|---|---|---|
| For sponsors on active duty in the U.S. armed forces who are petitioning for their spouse or child | For all other sponsors | |
| 2 | $26,430 | $33,037 |
| 3 | $33,310 | $41,637 |
| 4 | $40,190 | $50,237 |
| 5 | $47,070 | $58,837 |
| 6 | $53,950 | $67,437 |
| 7 | $60,830 | $76,037 |
| 8 | $67,710 | $84,637 |
| Add $6,880 for each additional person | Add $8,600 for each additional person |
For Hawaii:
| Sponsor’s Household Size | 100% of HHS Poverty Guidelines* | 125% of HHS Poverty Guidelines* |
|---|---|---|
| For sponsors on active duty in the U.S. armed forces who are petitioning for their spouse or child | For all other sponsors | |
| 2 | $24,320 | $30,400 |
| 3 | $30,650 | $38,312 |
| 4 | $36,980 | $46,225 |
| 5 | $43,310 | $54,137 |
| 6 | $49,640 | $62,050 |
| 7 | $55,970 | $69,962 |
| 8 | $62,300 | $77,875 |
| Add $6,330 for each additional person | Add $7,913 for each additional person |
Source: USCIS 2025 Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support
You must show that US citizen petitioner earns at least 125% of the U.S. poverty guideline for his or her household size.
To correctly determine the minimum income the US citizen petitioner must meet, you need to first calculate the size of US citizen’s household.
The following individuals must be included in sponsor’s household size:
- You (the sponsor)
- Sponsor’s spouse (if married)
- Your parent(s) being sponsored for permanent residency
- Any dependent children under the age of 21 (living with sponsor or residing separately)
- Any other dependents listed on sponsor’s most recent Federal income tax return
- Any immigrants previously sponsored with a Form I-864 or Form I-864 EZ, affidavit of support whom you are still obligated to support (unless immigrants obtained US citizenship)
Since you’re applying for a parent green card, the minimum household size would be two for one parent or three for both parents.
If your household doesn’t meet the minimum financial requirements, there are other ways to obtain a parent green card for the beneficiary(ies). You can:
- Provide income earned by any individuals in your household or dependents listed on your most recent Federal income tax return who signed Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member
- List the value of your assets (i.e. home(s), vehicles, property, etc.). If necessary, you may also include the assets of other members of your household who signed Form I-864A or the assets of the parent(s)
- Obtain a joint sponsor whose income and/or assets are at least 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
IR-5 Visa FAQs
What is a category IR-5?
IR-5 is an immigrant visa category that includes parents of US citizens. US citizen must be at least 21 years old before they can sponsor parents for permanent residency.
What happens after IR-5 is approved?
After IR-5 visa is approved, the parent can enter the US and become a permanent resident.
Who is eligible for family reunification in the USA?
US citizens can sponsor the following family members for permanent residency:
Related links:
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
Form I-130 is Approved, What to Do Next
Form I-864, Affidavit of Support