You already have a confirmed status in the United States. Perhaps you immigrated legally and you are a permanent resident with a green card. Maybe you were born in the country and you’ve been a citizen for your entire life thanks to birthright citizenship.
You’re worried that your parents don’t have the same status. Perhaps they haven’t even come to the United States yet, but you just want to help bring them here. But it is often true that people will be concerned that their parents don’t have a legal status yet, despite already being in the country, and they want to change that so they can avoid being deported or facing other ramifications. What options do you have?
You Can File A Petition For A Green Card
The good news is that you can put in a document called a Petition for Alien Relative, which can help them get a green card. They will then be a permanent resident of the United States, though they will not be a citizen.
Who Can You Petition For?
If you are 21 years old or older and you are a U.S. citizen, you can petition for parents, brothers, sisters, a husband or wife, or even your own children, if necessary. As you can see, this means that you can help your parents seek a green card, and it’s easier if they have a family member to sponsor them in this way.
Should They Become Citizens?
Your parents may eventually decide to go through the citizenship process, but you don’t necessarily need to worry about that. You’re just trying to ensure they don’t get deported and have legal status. The easiest way to do this is to get them a green card so they can be a legal resident and then they won’t be deported. At this point, they could begin the citizenship process if they wanted to since they already have the stability and security they were looking for.
How do you get started?
If you’re interested in doing this, understanding that you have the option is just the first step. Make sure you know how to proceed and all of the legal options at your disposal.