A United States Citizen parent may sponsor his or her child for green card. This is common where the United States citizen parent acquired United States citizenship through naturalization after the child was born overseas. In that case, the parent may sponsor the foreign born child by filing Form I-130 with the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services. Upon approval, the file will be forwarded to the Department of States for further processing.

A permanent resident of the United States may also sponsor his or her foreign national child for green card. This usually happens where the United States permanent resident acquired such status after the child was born overseas. The first step is to file Form I-130 with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. If the foreign national child resides in the United States, he or she may adjust status in the United States if he or she maintained current legal status. If, on the other hand, the foreign national child resides overseas, the approved petition will be forwarded to the Department of States for further processing.

The drawback is that there is a long waiting time for availability of immigrant visa. The waiting time is unpredictable. It may take between four to six years depending on the nationality of the foreign national.

Likewise, a United States citizen child can sponsor his or her parent for green card. To do so, the child must be 21 years or older. The United States citizen child may sponsor his or her parent whether the parent resides in the United States or abroad. There is no waiting time in this category. Immigrant visa is said to be immediately available. The only waiting time involved in the processing time. As usual, the process begins with filing Form I-130 with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. If the foreign parent is residing in the United States, he or she can adjust in the United States. If the foreign national resides in the United States, both Form I-130 and Form I-485 can be filed together, at the same time. If the parent is overseas, the approved petition will be forwarded to the Department of States for further processing.