There are permanent residents in the US who acquired their citizenship through naturalization. Because they are not born US citizens, bringing their immediate family to the US will take the same process as visa applications are done.
If you are a US citizen, you can bring your parents to the country with an IR5 visa. This falls on immediate relative visa together with spouse visa and children visa.
What is an IR5 Visa?
The Ir5 visa is applied for parents by US citizens who are at least 21 years old. Once approved, they will be able to connect with their children and live and work in the USA legally. They do not need to secure an Employment Authorization Document if they have the IR5 visa. This is a family-based green card that grants the parents a permanent residency.
Pros of Securing an IR5 Visa
One of the advantages of the IR5 visa is it does not have an annual issuance limit. As long as the requirements and criterias are fulfilled and the application is approved, parents do not have to wait for their priority dates.
They will be able to live and work legally while waiting for their green card to be released. After five years of having a green card, they will be able to apply for US citizenship.
When they have secured their IR5 visa, they will be able to access America’s healthcare system just like a regular citizen. They will be able to live together with their children in the USA and experience the best standard of living that the country provides.
The IR5 can also be applied by parents whose sponsoring child was born out of wedlock, stepparents, and adoptive parents.
Cons of Applying for an IR5 Visa
Being unable to pay for the USCIS fee on time may delay the release of the parent’s green card. It is recommended to be paid as soon as the visa is approved and the welcome letter is received.
The IR5 visa can only be applied by the sponsoring child who is at least 21 years old. Also, petitions applied for the IR5 visa are not allowed to be used in applying for petitions on the sponsor’s siblings. It should be applied separately by the sponsor or by the parents when they are approved as green card holders.
Another challenge for this visa is there are many documents that need to be prepared. If a father is applying for IR5 and is sponsored by his child, who was born out of wedlock, there is additional evidence that needs to be presented to prove their relationship. This goes the same with stepparents and adoptive parents.
The sponsoring US citizen should also provide proof that he can support the stay of his parents once they are in the US. A guideline for the annual net income is set depending on location and the sponsor’s household size. The required annual income can go as high as $58,287, and an additional $5,900 to his annual income for an additional parent.
Applying for an IR5 Visa
The process starts when the US citizen sponsoring child applies for a petition for his parents. If the parents are currently in the US using a different visa, they can apply for a parent green card under the Concurrent Adjustment of Status filing. No need to apply for an IR5 visa. The file for petitioning and application for an IR5 visa can be submitted together if both are already staying in the US.
The sponsoring child should complete all the required details in the Petition for Alien Relative form from the USCIS. Otherwise, the form will be rejected, and the process will be delayed.
If the parents are outside the US, they can apply for the IR5 visa through consular processing. While waiting for their green card to be released, they will be issued an immigrant visa to allow them to enter the US. Once available, the green card will be mailed to the US address they declared on their application.
The cost of applying for an IR5 visa may cost around $1,760 for parents that are already in the US and S1,200 if done by consular processing. The required medical examination is excluded from these fees.
The processing time for the green IR5 visa may depend on the location of the parents, which consular office is processing the visa, and the completeness of the documentary requirements. If parents are in the US, processing time may take about 12 to 18 months. If the process is done through consular processing, it may take 2-3 years to complete.
