ImmigrantImmediate relativeNo annual capForm I-130Petitioner 21+

IR-5 Parent of a U.S. Citizen

An immigrant visa for the mother, father, stepparent or adoptive parent of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old.

Last reviewed Oct 1, 2026Sources: USCIS · Department of StateReport an error

At a glance

Who files: U.S. citizen son or daughter, 21 or older
Petitions needed: One I-130 per parent
Visa numbers: Always available (immediate relative)
Petition fee: $675 paper / $625 online
Visa fee: $325
Green Card: 10-year card on admission

Entry restrictions for 39 nationalities. Under Proclamation 10998 (effective Jan. 1, 2026), immigrant entry is suspended for nationals of all 39 listed countries and for Palestinian Authority travel-document holders, and family members of people in the United States are no longer a categorical exception. Remaining exceptions include dual nationals travelling on a non-listed country’s passport and case-by-case national-interest exceptions; the proclamation applies to people outside the United States without a valid visa on the effective date. A separate State Department pause on immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries (from Jan. 21, 2026) is, per the State Department, no longer in effect as of Aug. 21, 2026 following the court’s order in CLINIC v. Rubio.

Overview

Parents of adult U.S. citizens are immediate relatives. Only a citizen who is at least 21 can file; permanent residents cannot petition for parents at all (USCIS).

Each parent is a separate principal beneficiary, so a citizen bringing both parents files two I-130s. A parent’s other children (the petitioner’s siblings) are not derivatives; siblings of U.S. citizens immigrate through the F4 category.

Stepparents qualify if the marriage creating the relationship took place before the petitioner’s 18th birthday, and adoptive parents qualify if the adoption took place before the petitioner’s 16th birthday.

Who qualifies

The petitioner must

Be a U.S. citizen at least 21 years old.
Prove the parent-child relationship: a birth certificate naming the parent; for a father, the parents’ marriage certificate, or evidence of legitimation before 18 or of a bona fide relationship before the petitioner turned 21 or married.
For a stepparent: the marriage occurred before the petitioner turned 18. For an adoptive parent: adoption before 16 and evidence of living together.
File Form I-864 and meet 125% of the poverty guidelines ($27,050 for a household of two in the 48 contiguous states, effective March 1, 2026), using assets or a joint sponsor if needed.

Duration & extensions

Status	Lawful permanent resident on admission
Green Card	10-year card, renewable
Work	Authorized on admission; the I-551 stamp is evidence until the card arrives
Naturalization	Generally after 5 years as a permanent resident

Fees

USCIS fees from the 10/01/26 fee schedule; State Department fees from 22 CFR 22.1.

Fee	Amount	Who pays	Notes
Form I-130 petition	$675 paper / $625 online	U.S. citizen	One petition per beneficiary.
Immigrant visa application fee	$325	Beneficiary	Immediate relative and family preference applications, 22 CFR 22.1 item 32(a); paid through the National Visa Center.
Affidavit of Support review	$120	Sponsor	Charged only when the I-864 is reviewed domestically (22 CFR 22.1 item 34).
USCIS Immigrant Fee	$235	Immigrant	Paid online after visa issuance; the Green Card is not produced until it is paid.
Panel-physician medical exam	Varies	Beneficiary	Paid directly to the panel physician.
Form I-485 (if in the U.S.)	$1,440 paper / $1,390 online	Beneficiary	Instead of the visa and Immigrant Fee; $950/$900 for a child under 14 filing with a parent. Only the 09/18/26 edition is accepted for filings on or after Sept. 18, 2026.

The Visa Integrity Fee in Public Law 119-21 applies only to nonimmigrant visas.

Processing time

Visa number wait: None; Parents of adult citizens are immediate relatives.

I-130 times vary; see egov.uscis.gov/processing-times.

Application steps

1
File Form I-130
File one petition per parent with proof of citizenship, age and relationship.
2
National Visa Center
Pay the $325 visa fee per parent and submit DS-260, civil documents and Form I-864.
3
Medical exam and interview
Each parent attends a panel-physician exam and consular interview.
4
Immigrant Fee and travel
Pay the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee per parent and enter on the immigrant visa.
5
Green Card
USCIS mails the Green Card; a parent already in the U.S. after inspection may instead file Form I-485 concurrently with the I-130.

Required documents

From the U.S. citizen

Birth certificate naming the parent (and, for a father, the parents’ marriage certificate or legitimation/bona fide relationship evidence).
Certificate of naturalization or citizenship, or U.S. passport, if not born in the U.S.
Proof of any legal name changes.
Form I-864 with tax and income evidence.

From the parent

Passport, birth certificate, marriage and divorce records, police certificates, and the panel physician’s medical report.

Dependents & family

None. Each parent needs a separate petition, and the petitioner’s siblings must use the F4 category.

After you arrive

IR-5 parents are unconditional permanent residents from the day they are admitted.

Step 1

Receive the card

Mailed after the Immigrant Fee is paid.

Step 2

Sponsor obligation

Under the Form I-864 instructions, the support obligation lasts until the parent becomes a citizen, can be credited with 40 qualifying quarters of work, or ceases to be a permanent resident, or until the sponsor or the parent dies.

Brother or sister of a U.S. citizen

For the petitioner’s siblings.

IR-1

Spouse of a U.S. citizen

Immediate-relative visa for spouses.

B-2

Visitor for pleasure

For temporary family visits.

Common questions

Can a Green Card holder sponsor parents?

No. Only U.S. citizens aged 21 or older can petition for parents.

Do both parents need separate petitions?

Yes. Each parent is a separate beneficiary and needs a separate I-130, visa fee and Immigrant Fee.

Can my parents bring my younger siblings?

No. Siblings are not derivatives of an IR-5; a citizen 21 or older can file for siblings in the F4 category, and once the parent is a permanent resident the parent may file a new petition for a qualifying child (USCIS).

Official sources

Recent changes

Aug 31, 2026
New Form I-864 edition (08/24/26) required from Oct. 1, 2026. USCIS published a new edition of the Affidavit of Support with a credit-report privacy release. After a 30-day grace period, USCIS accepts only the 08/24/26 edition for filings postmarked or submitted on or after Oct. 1, 2026. Source ↗
Aug 24, 2026
Court enjoins USCIS adjudication holds for nationals of 39 countries. In Red Eagle Law v. Edlow (N.D. Cal.), the court enjoined PM-602-0192 and PM-602-0194 and certified a class; USCIS says it will adjudicate covered applications in the normal course while litigation continues. Source ↗
Aug 21, 2026
75-country immigrant visa issuance pause no longer in effect. The State Department paused immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries from Jan. 21, 2026, citing public-charge review. Following the court’s order in CLINIC v. Rubio, the State Department says the pause is no longer in effect as of Aug. 21, 2026. Source ↗
Jul 20, 2026
DHS rescinds the 2022 public charge rule (effective Sept. 18, 2026). Final rule restoring broader officer discretion in public charge determinations. It applies to applications for admission made, and adjustment applications postmarked or submitted, on or after Sept. 18, 2026. Source ↗
Jun 5, 2026
Court vacates USCIS hold policies on pending applications. In Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. USCIS (D.R.I.), the court vacated PM-602-0192, PM-602-0194 and PA-2025-26 (final judgment June 11, 2026). USCIS says it will follow the order pending possible further review. Source ↗
Dec 16, 2025
Proclamation 10998 expands entry restrictions to 39 countries (effective Jan. 1, 2026). Suspends immigrant entry for nationals of every listed country and removes the broad family-based immigrant visa exception that Proclamation 10949 had contained; remaining exceptions are narrow, plus case-by-case national-interest exceptions. Source ↗
Aug 1, 2025
USCIS family-based petition guidance. Policy Manual update on screening, interviews and decisions for family-based petitions; clarifies that USCIS may issue a Notice to Appear if a beneficiary is otherwise removable, because an I-130 grants no status. Source ↗
Jun 4, 2025
Proclamation 10949 restricts entry from 19 countries (effective June 9, 2025). Originally exempted immediate-relative immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with clear and convincing evidence of the relationship, and adoption visas (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4). Those exceptions were superseded by Proclamation 10998. Source ↗
Apr 1, 2024
USCIS fee rule takes effect. The fee schedule final rule (89 FR 6194, published Jan. 31, 2024) set current family-based fees, including separate online and paper fees for Form I-130 and folding biometrics into the filing fees. Source ↗

This page is general reference material compiled from the official sources above and is not legal advice. Eligibility depends on individual facts; rules and fees change, so confirm with the agency before you file. VisaTypes.com is not affiliated with USCIS, the Department of State or any government agency. Spotted an error? Tell us.