Can a green card holder sponsor their parents?

No. According to USCIS, permanent residents can only sponsor a spouse and unmarried children. To sponsor parents, you must be a U.S. citizen who is 21 or older.

What category is a parent sponsored by a U.S. citizen?

The immediate relative category of a U.S. citizen. It does not wait for a visa number under the Visa Bulletin.

How long does it take to sponsor parents?

There is no visa number wait; the timeline includes USCIS processing of Form I-130, NVC processing and the consulate's interview schedule. Check current times on the USCIS Processing Times page.

Do I need two petitions to sponsor both parents?

Yes. Each parent needs a separate Form I-130 and a separate set of fees.

What are the government fees to sponsor a parent?

Per parent: Form I-130 $625 online or $675 on paper, the $325 visa application fee and the $120 Affidavit of Support review fee, under the USCIS fee schedule (edition October 16, 2026) and the State Department. Fees can change.

Can I sponsor my parents if my income is too low?

Possibly, if you make up the difference with assets or a qualifying joint sponsor who signs Form I-864.

Can my parents take the citizenship test in Vietnamese later?

After 5 years as permanent residents, your parents can apply for citizenship. Only applicants who qualify for 50/20, 55/15 or 65/20 are exempt from English and can test in Vietnamese.

Sponsoring Your Parents for a Green Card: Eligibility, Steps and Wait Times

Only U.S. citizens who are 21 or older can sponsor their parents for a green card. According to USCIS, parents of U.S. citizens are immediate relatives: "Visas are always available for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens", so there is no wait for a visa number as in the preference categories. Green card holders cannot sponsor parents: the USCIS list of relatives a permanent resident may petition for includes only a spouse and unmarried children.

Each parent needs a separate Form I-130. The fee is $625 online or $675 on paper (G-1055 Fee Schedule, edition October 16, 2026).

Who can sponsor a parent?

According to USCIS Family of U.S. Citizens (checked October 19, 2026), immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are:

Spouses of U.S. citizens.
Unmarried children under 21.
Parents of U.S. citizens (the petitioner must be 21 or older).

That means:

You must be a U.S. citizen when you file. If you have a green card, the path is to naturalize first, then sponsor your parents. See U.S. Citizenship Test 2026 and What Is Form N-400?.
You must be at least 21.
The parent-child relationship must be documented, usually with your birth certificate showing your parent's name. The Form I-130 instructions list extra requirements for some cases, such as a father petitioning for a child born out of wedlock, or a stepparent (married before you turned 18).

What are the steps?

If your parents are abroad (consular processing):

File Form I-130 for each parent (two separate petitions). Include proof of your U.S. citizenship and your birth certificate. For a father, include your parents' marriage certificate in most cases.
USCIS approves Form I-130 and sends the case to the National Visa Center (NVC).
Pay NVC fees for each parent: the $325 immigrant visa application fee, plus the $120 Affidavit of Support review fee, per the State Department fee page.
Submit Form DS-260, your parents' civil documents, and Form I-864. You are the financial sponsor; USCIS charges no fee for Form I-864.
Your parents have a medical exam and an interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate handling immigrant visas for their country. For Vietnam, that is the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.
They enter the U.S. and receive 10-year green cards by mail.

If your parents are lawfully in the U.S. (on a visitor visa, for example), adjustment of status with Form I-485 ($1,390 online / $1,440 paper) may be an option. It depends on many conditions, such as how they entered and the purpose stated when they applied for the visa. Talk to a licensed immigration attorney before choosing this path.

How long does it take?

Because parents are immediate relatives, there is no wait for a visa number. The timeline includes:

USCIS processing of Form I-130: see USCIS Processing Times.
NVC processing and the interview schedule at the consulate.

Timelines vary over time; there is no single number that applies to every case.

Total government fees (per parent, visa processed abroad)

According to the USCIS G-1055 Fee Schedule (edition October 16, 2026) and the State Department fee page (checked October 19, 2026):

Item	Amount
Form I-130 (USCIS)	$625 online / $675 paper
Immigrant visa application fee (State Department)	$325
Affidavit of Support review fee	$120
Form I-864 (USCIS)	$0

This does not include the medical exam, translations or documents obtained abroad. Fees can change, so check again before you file.

Does the sponsor need enough income?

Yes. You sign Form I-864, promising financial support for your parents. Your income must meet the minimum in USCIS guidelines, generally 125% of the federal poverty guidelines for your household size, counting the parents you sponsor. If you fall short, you can use assets or a joint sponsor. This promise is legally binding, so read the Form I-864 instructions carefully.

After your parents arrive

Your parents receive 10-year green cards and can live and work in the U.S.
After 5 years as permanent residents, they can apply for citizenship. Applicants 55 or older who have had a green card long enough may test in their own language. See The Citizenship Test for Applicants 65 and Older.
If they travel abroad for long periods, see How Long Can a Green Card Holder Stay Outside the U.S.?.

Need help preparing a parent petition?

Manna One Solution's immigration document preparation service prepares Forms I-130 and I-864 and the NVC paperwork online for clients across the U.S., in English or Vietnamese. Manna One Solution is not a law firm and does not give legal advice; some states require non-attorney immigration document preparers to register with the state, so we confirm the state you live in before taking your case. If your parents had a past visa denial, an overstay, or errors on a birth certificate, talk to a licensed immigration attorney.

Sources

USCIS — Family of U.S. Citizens (checked October 19, 2026)
USCIS — Family of Green Card Holders (checked October 19, 2026)
USCIS — I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (checked October 19, 2026)
USCIS — I-864, Affidavit of Support (checked October 19, 2026)
USCIS — G-1055 Fee Schedule (edition 10/16/26) (checked October 19, 2026)
U.S. Department of State — Fees for Visa Services (checked October 19, 2026)
USCIS — Processing Times (checked October 19, 2026)

We prepare USCIS forms online for clients across the U.S. Manna One Solution is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. Some states require non-attorney immigration document preparers to register with the state, so we confirm your state before taking your case.