Petitioning as a Lawful Permanent Resident
If you are a lawful permanent resident applying to bring an unmarried, minor child or an unmarried son or daughter to the United States to live and you are the mother of the child, you must file the following with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services:
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
A copy of your alien registration card
A copy of the child’s birth certificate showing your name and the child’s name
If anyone’s name has been legally changed (if it differs from the name on his or her birth certificate), evidence of the name change must be submitted.
Fathers and Stepparents
If you are a lawful permanent resident and the father or stepparent of the child, you must file the following with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services:
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
A copy of your alien registration receipt card
A copy of the child’s birth certificate showing the child’s name and the names of both parents
A copy of civil marriage certificate showing the names of both parents, or proof that a parent/child relationship exists or existed (if you are petitioning for a stepchild, your marriage to the child’s parent must take place before the stepchild’s 18th birthday)
A copy of any divorce decrees, death certificates, or annulment decrees that establish the termination of any previous marriages entered into by you or your spouse
Fathers petitioning for a child born out of wedlock must provide evidence that a parent/child relationship exists or existed. For example, the child’s birth certificate displaying the father’s name, evidence showing that the father has made financial contributions in support of the child. A blood test proving paternity may be necessary.
If anyone’s name has been legally changed (if it differs from the name on his or her birth certificate), evidence of the name change must be submitted
Adoptive Parents
If you are a lawful permanent resident and the adoptive parent of the child or unmarried son or daughter, you must file the following with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services:
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
A copy of your alien registration receipt card
A copy of the child’s birth certificate showing the child’s name
A certified copy of the adoption decree (The adoption must have taken place before the child reached the age of 16. One exception: if you adopted the child’s sibling who had not yet reached age 16, the older sibling must have been adopted before reaching the age of 18.)
The legal custody decree if you obtained custody of the child before adoption
A statement showing the dates and places your child has lived with you, and proof that your child has lived with you and has been in your legal custody for at least two years
If anyone’s name has been legally changed (if it differs from the name on his or her birth certificate), evidence of the name change must be submitted.
Beneficiaries Who Wish to Bring Children
How do I bring my children to the U.S. if I am the beneficiary of the petition? If your U.S. citizen parent, brother or sister is petitioning for you on Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and you are married, your spouse and/or children do not require a separate visa petition. If you are unmarried and 21 years of age or older, your children do not require a separate visa petition. In both cases, your spouse and/or children will be included in the visa petition your immediate relative is filing for you. If you are unmarried and under 21 years of age, you will need to file a petition for your children once you obtain lawful permanent resident status. See Following-to-Join Benefits.
Forms and Fee Information
Forms and fee information as well as where to file can be found on the USCIS I-130 form entry page. You may also obtain forms from the USCIS Forms Center by calling 1-800-870-3676.
This information is for United States (U.S.) citizens and lawful permanent residents who wish to petition for or “sponsor” their child to live permanently in the U.S. Please note that “child” has a specific definition when used in immigration
