Bringing Your Parents

Who this is for: U.S. citizens age 21 or older who want to get green cards for parents who are in China (or already visiting the U.S.). This guide covers choosing between the two routes (Guangzhou consular processing / adjustment of status in the U.S.), fees, the I-864 affidavit of support, common interview questions for parents, and health insurance and other arrangements after your parents arrive.

⚠️ Green card policy changed a lot in 2025–2026: stricter review of adjustment of status (May 2026 memo), the new public charge rule (effective September 18, 2026), the new I-864 edition (from October 1, 2026), and health insurance policy changes (2026–2027). Fees and rules below were checked against official pages on October 14, 2026; check the official links again before filing.

1. Who can apply and how long it takes

Eligibility (USCIS):

• The petitioner must be a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years old.
• Green card holders can't petition for parents.
• Eligible parents: biological parents; stepparents (if the marriage between your biological parent and stepparent happened before you turned 18); adoptive parents (adoption completed before you turned 16, plus residence requirements).
• Parents are "immediate relatives," with no wait and no annual limit.
• Your parents' minor children in China (your younger siblings) can't come on the same petition; after your parents get green cards they must file separately for them.
• File one I-130 for each parent (one for your father, one for your mother); they remain two separate cases afterward.

Two routes:

Flow: A U.S. citizen child 21 or older files an I-130 for each parent → parents in China: USCIS approves → case transferred to the NVC → pay fees in CEAC, file the DS-260, submit the I-864 and Chinese notarial documents → once documentarily qualified, Guangzhou interview scheduled → medical exam at a designated clinic (panel physician) → Guangzhou interview → visa → pay the $235 immigrant fee → permanent residents on the day they enter. Parents already lawfully in the U.S.: file the I-130, I-485, I-864 and I-693 together (optionally also the I-765 for a work permit, or Employment Authorization Document, and the I-131 for advance parole) → biometrics → possible interview → approval, green card mailed to the U.S. address

2. Route 1: parents in China, through Guangzhou

1. File the I-130

• The petitioner fills out the I-130, choosing "consular processing" in Part 4.
• Evidence of the relationship (per the USCIS parents page):
  • For your mother: your birth certificate (showing your name and your mother's); if you weren't born in the U.S., a copy of your naturalization certificate or U.S. passport.
  • For your father: your birth certificate (showing both parents' names) + naturalization certificate or U.S. passport copy + your parents' marriage certificate.
  • Stepparents: the marriage certificate of your biological parent and stepparent (married before you turned 18), plus proof that earlier marriages ended.
  • If you changed your name, proof of the name change.
• For people born in China, the birth certificate is generally a notarial certificate of birth issued by a Chinese notary office (gongzheng chu), with an English translation; see Preparing Chinese documents.

2. The NVC stage

• After approval the case goes to the NVC; pay in CEAC: immigrant visa application fee $325 per person and affidavit of support review fee $120 (⚠️ State Department fee page, checked October 14, 2026). Two parents are two cases, each paying separately.
• Each parent files a DS-260 and uploads the I-864 and tax records plus Chinese civil documents: the parent's notarial birth certificate, notarial marriage certificate (and proof previous marriages ended), notarial certificate of no criminal record (Guangzhou requires issuance within 24 months before the interview), passport (valid at least 8 months beyond the visa issuance date) and so on. Full checklist: Consular processing step by step.

3. Medical exam and the Guangzhou interview

• After receiving the interview letter, have the medical exam at a panel physician's clinic designated by the post (Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Fuzhou); no exam without an interview date. The basic fee for adults is about RMB 1,600–2,100 (⚠️ per the post's April 2026 instructions; may change).
• Older parents with lung calcifications or a TB history may need a sputum culture, with results taking about 8 weeks; allow time.
• At the Guangzhou interview the sponsor (you) can't enter the waiting area; the interview is in Chinese. Common questions are in section 5.

4. Visa and entry

• After the visa is issued and before entering, pay the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee online per person (listed in G-1055), or the physical green card can't be produced.
• At entry the passport is stamped I-551 and they become permanent residents that day and may work (USCIS says parents entering on immigrant visas don't need separate work permits). The green card is mailed to the U.S. address on the DS-260.

Government fees for the consular route (per parent) ⚠️

Plus the medical exam, notarization, translation and travel. Roughly double for two parents.

3. Route 2: parents already in the U.S., adjustment of status

1. Prerequisites

• Your parents entered lawfully (for example, inspected and admitted on a B-2 visa).
• As immediate relatives, they can file the I-130 and I-485 together (concurrent filing).
• Legally, immediate relatives may still be eligible to adjust even if the I-94 has expired, as long as they were lawfully admitted; but the USCIS memo of May 2026 lists "not leaving on time" as a significant negative factor (see below). If there is any overstay, get a lawyer's assessment first.

2. ⚠️ The biggest 2026 change: intent at entry and "discretion"

• USCIS memo PM-602-0199 (May 21, 2026): adjustment of status is "a matter of discretion and administrative grace," not a right. People admitted on nonimmigrant visas or parole are expected by Congress, in principle, to leave on time and process immigrant visas at a consulate; not complying with the terms of admission, not leaving on time, or conduct inconsistent with what you said at entry are adverse factors that must be offset by "unusual or even outstanding equities"; the absence of adverse factors, by itself, isn't enough.
• Intent at entry: if your parents got B-2 visas and said at entry they were visiting family and touring, but in fact planned all along to come and apply for green cards, that may be found to be misrepresentation. The State Department's Foreign Affairs Manual (9 FAM 302.9) has a "90-day rule": conduct inconsistent with your status within 90 days of entry lets a consular officer presume misrepresentation at entry; it also says simply filing an adjustment application isn't enough to create that presumption. USCIS isn't directly bound by this rule but does examine intent at entry.
• Bottom line: adjustment of status is still a legal route, and some cases were approved on schedule in 2026, but the risk has clearly risen. Parents who decided to apply during a B-2 visit, told the truth at entry and haven't overstayed are relatively safe; if it was clearly planned, filed right after entry, or there's an overstay, consider consular processing first or talk to a lawyer.

3. What to file

⚠️ Since October 7, 2026 the mailing addresses for the I-130, I-485 and others have changed (filings mailed to old addresses before November 9, 2026 are still accepted); check "Direct Filing Addresses" on the USCIS website. The I-485 can now be filed online (family cases with a filed I-130); see filing methods in Marriage green card.

Fees for the adjustment route (per parent, G-1055 10/07/26 edition) ⚠️

I-130 + I-485 only (paper) is $2,115 per person; with the work permit and advance parole, $3,005. The civil surgeon sets the exam fee.

4. While waiting

• While the I-485 is pending, your parents are in a "period of authorized stay." Don't leave without advance parole, or the application is generally abandoned. Anyone with more than 180 days of past unlawful presence may trigger the 3-year or 10-year bar by leaving even with advance parole (an August 2026 BIA decision; see Marriage green card); talk to a lawyer before traveling.
• On forums some file only the I-130 + I-485 without a work permit to reduce processing steps, and skip advance parole if they have no short-term travel plans. Decide based on your needs.

4. The I-864 affidavit of support: the most common sticking point

• The sponsor is you (the U.S. citizen child), who must be 18 or older with a domicile in the U.S.
• Income must reach 125% of the HHS poverty guideline for your household size. Household size = you + your spouse + unmarried children under 21 + tax dependents + the parents being sponsored + anyone you previously sponsored whose obligation hasn't ended.
• 2026 standard (48 states, from March 1, 2026) ⚠️:

• Two parents are two cases, each needing its own I-864.
• If your income isn't enough: use assets; combine the income of household members (such as your spouse) with an I-864A; or find a joint sponsor (a U.S. citizen or green card holder with U.S. domicile who meets the income requirement on their own).
• How long the obligation lasts: the I-864 instructions say the obligation continues until the immigrant naturalizes or can be credited with 40 quarters of work (it also ends at death, abandoning permanent residence and so on). If your parents receive means-tested federal benefits, the government can seek reimbursement from the sponsor.
• ⚠️ The new I-864 includes authorization for USCIS to check credit; lift any credit freeze in time.
• Tax records: use the official IRS transcript or complete federal tax returns and W-2s.

5. The interview: common questions for parents

At the Guangzhou post

The interview is usually short, in Chinese, and focused on the parent-child relationship, the child's situation and the parents' plans in the U.S.:

• What is your child's name, which city do they live in, what do they do and at which company?
• When did your child go to the U.S., and when did they become a citizen?
• When did you last see each other? How often does your child come back? Have you been to the U.S.?
• Is your child married? What is the spouse's name? How many grandchildren?
• Where will you live in the U.S., and with whom? Who will pay living and medical costs?
• Do you work, have a pension or own property? Do you have other children in China?
• How is your health? Any chronic conditions or medications? (Related to the medical exam and public charge review)
• Have you ever been refused a visa or overstayed in the U.S.?

USCIS interview in the U.S. (if scheduled)

• Review of personal information and the yes/no questions on the I-485 (crimes, immigration violations, party and organization membership and so on).
• When you entered, the purpose of entry, what you said when applying for the B-2 visa, when you decided to apply for a green card.
• Whether you worked or received benefits in the U.S.
• The sponsor's job and income.

Principles: answer truthfully, say you don't know if you don't; older parents can ask the officer to repeat or slow down; don't recite scripts.

2025–2026 focus: public charge

• The State Department's explanation updated in February 2026: officers weigh age, health, family status, finances, and education and skills, as well as past or present use of U.S. public benefits. Posts can also require individual applicants to post a public charge bond (amount set by the officer).
• The new USCIS rule (for I-485s filed on or after September 18, 2026): means-tested benefits applied for or received after that date may be considered.
• For older parents, useful materials include the sponsor's proof of income, the parents' own assets and pensions, and a health care plan (for example, understanding how to buy insurance in the U.S.).

6. After your parents arrive: health insurance and other arrangements

1. Health insurance (most important) ⚠️

• Visitor travel insurance is for B-2 visitors and generally doesn't apply once your parents have green cards; switch to proper U.S. health insurance.
• The ACA marketplace (HealthCare.gov or your state's platform): green card holders can buy coverage. Those with income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty line may get premium subsidies. ⚠️ From January 1, 2027, only green card holders, Cuban/Haitian entrants, COFA migrants and a few other groups can still get marketplace subsidies (green card holders remain eligible). Getting a green card and moving to the U.S. generally qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period outside open enrollment; check your state platform.
• Medicaid: green card holders generally must wait 5 years after getting status (states may have exceptions for pregnant women and children, which matter little for older parents). ⚠️ Also consider public charge and I-864 reimbursement; consult a professional before applying.
• Medicare:
  • Premium-free Part A generally requires about 10 years (40 quarters) of U.S. taxed work by the person or a spouse.
  • Green card holders without a work record can buy Part A and Part B themselves at age 65+ after 5 continuous years of residence in the U.S. (per CMS).
  • The 2025 H.R.1 law narrowed the immigration statuses eligible for Medicare to green card holders and a few others; green card holders are still eligible.
• In practice: most families use ACA marketplace coverage for the first 5 years, then consider Medicare. Subsidies are easier to calculate with income and tax filings.

2. Other arrangements

• Social Security number: follow SSA requirements; consular applicants can look for the SSN option on the DS-260.
• ID: the green card, plus a state driver's license or ID.
• Long trips abroad: green card holders who stay outside the U.S. for more than a year continuously risk being found to have abandoned status; before a long return to China, apply for a reentry permit (I-131). See After you get your green card.
• Taxes: green card holders are generally U.S. tax residents and must report worldwide income and foreign accounts as required; consult a tax professional.
• Citizenship: green card holders can apply after 5 years, and older applicants have exemptions allowing the test in Chinese; see Taking the test in Chinese.

7. Major 2025–2026 changes

8. What applicants report (since 2025)

Summaries of individual experiences from public forums and Chinese-language information sites, not guarantees.

• Ask your parents whether they want to live here long term: many older parents don't adjust well to life in the U.S. and don't want to be bound by the green card's "make the U.S. your home" residence requirement; for them a 10-year B-2 visitor visa may suit better.
• You can sponsor just one parent: if one parent isn't up to long flights or doesn't want to live here long term, you can sponsor only the other.
• Adjustment of status is still being approved: one person on 1point3acres shared that their parents entered on B-2 in October 2025, filed I-130 + I-485 together in March 2026, did biometrics in April, and had both approved by late August without an interview. Another's parent's I-485 was approved in about 3.5 months in 2025, with the advice "make the I-130 evidence solid and the I-485 package lean."
• Anxiety after the memo: after May 2026 many on forums asked whether to keep waiting on already-filed parent I-485s or switch to consular processing; there's no single answer, and people with overstays are generally advised to see a lawyer.
• Common 221(g) reasons in Guangzhou: in a 2026 case the parents were asked after the interview for the latest tax returns, W-2s and even a "family financial plan," and were approved about 2 months after submitting. Lessons: use the official IRS transcript, bring recent pay stubs and an employer letter, and write down where the parents will live, who pays their expenses and how they'll get insurance.
• Medical exams slow things down: many older parents need sputum cultures, which take about two months, pushing back the interview and visa.
• The questions aren't hard, but the facts must be right: if parents can't answer basics like the child's employer, city, naturalization date or grandchildren's names, it can make the family seem distant; go over them as a family before the interview.
• Health insurance is the biggest expense: Chinese-language forums commonly warn that the first 5 years of coverage for parents over 65 is expensive, and parents without a work record still pay premiums when buying Medicare after 5 years, so budget ahead.

9. FAQ

1. I'm a green card holder. Can I file an I-130 for my parents first? No. You must be a U.S. citizen and 21 or older.

2. Do two parents need two applications? Yes. One I-130 each, and separate NVC/USCIS cases afterward, each with its own fees and I-864.

3. Can parents who came on B-2 still adjust status in the U.S.? Legally yes, but review is stricter since the May 2026 memo, and intent at entry and timely departure are considered. Truthful entry and no overstay are relatively safe; if it was clearly planned or there's an overstay, see a lawyer first.

4. My income isn't enough to sponsor. What can I do? Use assets, combine your spouse's income (I-864A), or find a joint sponsor.

5. Can my siblings (my parents' other children) come with them? Not on your parents' cases. You can file F4 for siblings (a very long wait), or after your parents get green cards they can file F2A/F2B for unmarried children.

6. Do my parents need to speak English? Not for the green card. The Guangzhou interview is in Chinese; USCIS interviews can include an interpreter. For citizenship, older applicants have exemptions allowing the test in Chinese.

7. Can my parents live half the year in China after getting green cards? Short trips back and forth are fine, but green card holders should keep the U.S. as their long-term residence. Continuous absences of more than a year risk losing status; apply for a reentry permit before a long absence.

8. Can my parents buy health insurance right after arriving? Yes, on the ACA marketplace, with subsidies if green card holders meet income requirements; Medicaid generally requires waiting 5 years; buying Medicare requires 5 years of continuous U.S. residence.

9. What happens if my parents receive benefits? It may be considered in public charge review (for pending applications), and the I-864 sponsor may be asked to reimburse. Consult a professional before applying.

10. Official links

• USCIS bringing parents: https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-of-us-citizens/bringing-parents-to-live-in-the-united-states-as-permanent-residents
• I-130: https://www.uscis.gov/i-130
• I-485: https://www.uscis.gov/i-485
• I-864 / poverty guidelines: https://www.uscis.gov/i-864 ; https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p
• Fee schedule G-1055: https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055
• State Department visa fees: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html
• Guangzhou interview scheduling tool: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/iv-wait-times.html
• Guangzhou post immigrant visa instructions: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/GUZ-Guangzhou.html
• Adjustment of status and discretion memo PM-602-0199: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/memos/PM-602-0199-AdjustmentOfStatusAndDiscretion-20260521.pdf
• 9 FAM 302.9 (including the 90-day rule): https://fam.state.gov/fam/09FAM/09FAM030209.html
• Public charge guidance: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-issues-guidance-on-making-public-charge-inadmissibility-determination
• State Department public charge explanation: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/preventing-public-benefits-reliance.html
• Health coverage for lawfully present immigrants (HealthCare.gov): https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/lawfully-present-immigrants/
• Medicare eligibility (CMS): https://www.cms.gov/medicare/enrollment-renewal/original-part-a-b
• Processing times: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

Disclaimer: This guide is general information only and not legal, tax or insurance advice. Immigration and health insurance rules change often; follow the latest from USCIS, the State Department, HealthCare.gov and CMS, and talk to a licensed immigration attorney about complicated cases. The "what applicants report" section reflects individual experiences on public forums and is not a guarantee.