U.S. citizens age 21 or older may petition for their parents as Immediate Relatives — with no annual cap and no priority date wait. Attorney Shair handles the entire process from I-130 to Green Card.
The parent petition (IR-5) allows U.S. citizens who are at least 21 years old to sponsor their parents for lawful permanent residence in the United States. Parents of U.S. citizens are classified as Immediate Relatives under INA § 201(b)(2)(A)(i) — meaning there is no annual numerical cap on this category and no priority date wait. Once the I-130 petition is approved, the parent can proceed directly to consular processing or adjustment of status.
This is one of the most meaningful immigration petitions — reuniting children with their parents after years of separation. Attorney Shair handles every aspect of the process with the personal attention and care that family reunification deserves.
"Bringing parents to the United States is one of the most profound acts of love and responsibility. Attorney Shair approaches every parent petition with the respect and dedication that reuniting a family deserves."
No. Only U.S. citizens may petition for parents. Lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) are not eligible to file an I-130 petition for their parents — they may only petition for spouses and unmarried children. If you are a Green Card holder who wishes to petition for a parent, the first step is to pursue naturalization to become a U.S. citizen. Attorney Shair handles both the naturalization process and the subsequent parent petition.
Possibly. Children born abroad to U.S. citizen parents may have acquired U.S. citizenship at birth under INA §§ 301 or 309, depending on the parents' citizenship status and physical presence in the U.S. before the birth. If you acquired citizenship at birth, you may be able to petition for your parents without going through the naturalization process. Attorney Shair can evaluate whether you already hold U.S. citizenship and advise on the appropriate steps.
Prior unlawful presence, prior deportations, misrepresentations, or criminal convictions may create grounds of inadmissibility that must be addressed before or alongside the immigrant visa. Common waivers include the I-601 (unlawful presence or misrepresentation waiver) and I-212 (permission to reapply after removal). Attorney Shair reviews the parent's complete immigration and criminal history before filing to identify and address any inadmissibility issues.
Yes. If both parents are your biological parents and you have a qualifying relationship with both, you may file separate I-130 petitions for each parent simultaneously. Both can proceed through consular processing at the same U.S. embassy — often attending interviews around the same time. Attorney Shair coordinates both petitions to ensure they progress together as efficiently as possible.
Many parent petitions appear straightforward but encounter complications — prior unlawful presence bars, prior removal orders, or outdated civil documents from foreign countries. Attorney Shair reviews every potential issue before filing and ensures the complete package is prepared correctly the first time. He also coordinates interview preparation with both the U.S. citizen petitioner and the parent beneficiary — addressing every question an embassy officer may ask.
Attorney Shair handles every parent petition with the care and precision your family deserves. Free consultation — no obligation.