If you are a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident, you can sponsor your child for a Green Card. You and your child will need to submit certain documents to the U.S. Government when you apply. The application process and documents you will need are different when the child you are seeking a Green Card for is living inside of the United States (“Adjustment of Status”) and when they are living outside of the United States (“Consular Processing”). This guide will serve as a document checklist for both processes.
If you are a U.S. citizen, you must provide proof of your citizenship. Acceptable documents include:
If you are a lawful permanent resident, you must provide proof of your permanent resident status. Acceptable documents include:
If you or your child have changed your/their legal name you will need to provide proof of all name changes. Acceptable proof includes:
If you are the genetic mother or a non-genetic gestational mother of your child, you will need to provide a copy of your child's official birth certificate.
If you are the Genetic father of your child, you will need to provide the following:
If you are the step-parent (step-mother or step-father) of your child, you will need to provide the following:
If you are the adoptive parent (adoptive mother or adoptive father) of your child, you will need to provide the following:
As a parent trying to get a Green Card, you will need to provide 2 passport-style photos (2 inches by 2 inches) of yourself with your Form I-130 petition. These are in addition to any passport photos required by other forms you may be filing at the same time as Form I-130.
In order to sponsor your child, you (and any co-sponsors) must submit a Form I-864, "Affidavit of Support.” Form I-864 requires the must provide the following documents from each sponsor:
At minimum, you need to submit a copy of your most recent U.S. tax return. It could also be helpful to include:
If using your bank/investment accounts:
If using your home:
If using your second vehicle:
If you are applying for a Green Card for your child while they are living in the United States, you must provide the following with their Form I-485, “Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status”:
You may submit your child’s Form I-693 together with Form I-485 or later, such as by mail when USCIS requests it or in person at your child’s Green Card interview (if they are required to attend an interview).
If your child has ever had a negative interaction with law enforcement in their home country or elsewhere, you must submit proof of all such interactions. This includes things like court, police, and prison records.
If your child has ever violated U.S. immigration law, you must submit proof of all violations. This includes any deportation documents and other records of run-ins with immigration officials that your child has had.
You will need to provide 2 passport-style photos (2 inches by 2 inches) of your child with their Form I-485. These are in addition to any passport photos required by other forms you may be filing at the same time as Form I-485.
If your child wants to work in the United States before they receive their Green Card, they must file Form I-765. Form I-765 requires the following supporting documents:
You should submit your child’s prior work permit If they have received a US work permit in the past. If your child has never had a U.S. work permit, you should submit the following documents as proof of their nationality:
You will need to provide 2 passport-style photos (2 inches by 2 inches) of your child with their Form I-765. These are in addition to any passport photos required by other forms you may be filing at the same time as Form I-765.
If your child wants to be able to leave the U.S. temporarily while they wait for their Green Card, they must file Form I-765 requires the following supporting documents:
You will need to provide 2 passport-style photos (2 inches by 2 inches) of your child with their Form I-131. These are in addition to any passport photos required by other forms you may be filing at the same time as Form I-131.
Most immigrants, including children. must file Form I-944 when they apply for a Green Card while living in the U.S. This is true even if your child isn’t old enough to work. You must provide the following documents with your child’s form I-944.
If your child or their household members have any debt or other liabilities, you must provide evidence for each debt or liability. This includes mortgages, car loans, unpaid taxes or child support, or credit cards. You can do so by providing the following:
If your child or their household members have ever filed for bankruptcy, you must provide their Evidence of bankruptcy resolution, court papers or other documentation showing that any prior bankruptcies have been fully resolved
If your child already has a US Credit Score:
If your child does not already have a US Credit Score:
If your child has medical insurance, you should provide proof by including the following documents. Your child’s health insurance card is not enough for proof unless it is marked with their policy’s effective and expiration dates
Additionally, you may provide the following information about your child’s health insurance to strenghten their application:
If your child uses Affordable Care Act tax credits for their health insurance coverage you must provide:
If your child’s health insurance plan has not started yet, you should provide details of their pending coverage. This would include things like a letter from their health insurance company showing that they have enrolled, or have a future enrollment date, for an insurance policy. Make sure that this letter includes the terms, type of coverage, individuals covered, and the policy start date.
If your child has medical conditions that will affect their ability to work, attend school, or provide care for themselves you must include:
If you are a U.S. Citizen, and your child is eligible for citizenship, their use of public benefits does not matter. You must provide evidence that you are a Citizen, they are your child, and they are eligible for citizenship. You will not need to submit any other evidence your child’s use of public benefits if this is the case.
If your child has ever sought or received any public benefits you should provide a letter or other document from the benefit-granting agency containing your child’s name, the agency’s name, the type of benefit, and the start and end date of the benefit. This applies even if you sought or received these public benefits for your child.
If your child has ever disenrolled from benefits, or withdrawn an application for a public benefit, you must submit evidence documenting the dis-enrollment or withdrawal from the public benefit(s). For example, the a letter from the benefits agency showing that they received your child’s request to dis-enroll or withdraw from benefits. This applies even if you signed your child up for these benefits.
If your child is a member of the US military and has received public benefits, you must provide evidence of their military service from the authorizing official of their executive department.
If you are a member of the US military and your child received public benefits through you, you must submit Form DD-1173, “U.S. Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card – Dependent” with your child’s application.
If your child has ever received Medicaid benefits for a reason that doesn’t matter for Public Charge, you must provide the following with their application:
If your child has an exempt immigration status or has received a Public Charge Waiver, you will need to provide evidence of their exemption or waiver.
If your child has ever received or applied for an immigration filing fee waiver, you must provide any documents or evidence showing that their circumstances have changed since they requested a fee waiver. This includes things like their
If your child is unable to work because they are the primary caretaker of a child or an elderly or disabled person, you should provide evidence:
You must provide evidence of your child’s education from highschool on. This includes as many of the following as possible:
If your child has any occupational skills or training, you must provide evidence of it. This includes as many of the following as possible:
If your child has foreign education or training, you must provide a formal evaluation of equivalency comparing foreign educational achievements to a U.S. education or degree
You should provide evidence of your child’s language training or proficiency in English and in their native language:
Applying for a Green Card for your child through Adjustment of Status can be complicated. ImmigrationHelp.org can help you prepare your application paperwork for free with our simple online application. Click the button below to get started.
If you are applying for a Green Card for your while they are living outside of the United States, you must submit the following to the National Visa Center (NVC) after you file your child’s DS-260, “Immigrant Visa Application.”
You must submit your child’s official vaccination records and proof that they were examined by an approved Panel Physician. You can submit this proof by mail when the NVC requests it or in person at your child’s Green Card interview (if they are required to attend an interview).
If your child has ever had a negative interaction with law enforcement in their home country or elsewhere, you must submit proof of all such interactions. This includes things like court, police, and prison records.
If your child has ever violated U.S. immigration law, you must submit proof of all violations. This includes any deportation documents and other records of run-ins with immigration officials that your child has had.
You will need to submit 2 passport-style photos (2 inches by 2 inches) of your child to the NVC after you file your child’s DS-260. These are in addition to any passport photos required by other forms you may be sending to the NVC at the same time.
Most immigrants, including children. must file Form DS-5540 when they apply for a Green Card while living abroad. This is true even if your child isn’t old enough to work. You must provide the following documents with your child’s form I-944.
If your child or their household members have any debt or other liabilities, you must provide evidence for each debt or liability. This includes mortgages, car loans, unpaid taxes or child support, or credit cards. You can do so by providing the following:
If your child or their household members have ever filed for bankruptcy, you must provide their Evidence of bankruptcy resolution, court papers or other documentation showing that any prior bankruptcies have been fully resolved
If your child already has a US Credit Score:
If your child does not already have a US Credit Score:
If your child has medical insurance, you should provide proof by including the following documents. Your child’s health insurance card is not enough for proof unless it is marked with their policy’s effective and expiration dates
Additionally, you may provide the following information about your child’s health insurance to strenghten their application:
If your child uses Affordable Care Act tax credits for their health insurance coverage you must provide:
If your child’s health insurance plan has not started yet, you should provide details of their pending coverage. This would include things like a letter from their health insurance company showing that they have enrolled, or have a future enrollment date, for an insurance policy. Make sure that this letter includes the terms, type of coverage, individuals covered, and the policy start date.
If your child has medical conditions that will affect their ability to work, attend school, or provide care for themselves you must include:
If you are a U.S. Citizen, and your child is eligible for citizenship, their use of public benefits does not matter. You must provide evidence that you are a Citizen, they are your child, and they are eligible for citizenship. You will not need to submit any other evidence your child’s use of public benefits if this is the case.
If your child has ever sought or received any public benefits you should provide a letter or other document from the benefit-granting agency containing your child’s name, the agency’s name, the type of benefit, and the start and end date of the benefit. This applies even if you sought or received these public benefits for your child.
If your child has ever disenrolled from benefits, or withdrawn an application for a public benefit, you must submit evidence documenting the dis-enrollment or withdrawal from the public benefit(s). For example, the a letter from the benefits agency showing that they received your child’s request to dis-enroll or withdraw from benefits. This applies even if you signed your child up for these benefits.
If your child is a member of the US military and has received public benefits, you must provide evidence of their military service from the authorizing official of their executive department.
If you are a member of the US military and your child received public benefits through you, you must submit Form DD-1173, “U.S. Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card – Dependent” with your child’s application.
If your child has ever received Medicaid benefits for a reason that doesn’t matter for Public Charge, you must provide the following with their application:
If your child has an exempt immigration status or has received a Public Charge Waiver, you will need to provide evidence of their exemption or waiver.
If your child has ever received or applied for an immigration filing fee waiver, you must provide any documents or evidence showing that their circumstances have changed since they requested a fee waiver. This includes things like their
If your child is unable to work because they are the primary caretaker of a child or an elderly or disabled person, you should provide evidence:
You must provide evidence of your child’s education from highschool on. This includes as many of the following as possible:
If your child has any occupational skills or training, you must provide evidence of it. This includes as many of the following as possible:
If your child has foreign education or training, you must provide a formal evaluation of equivalency comparing foreign educational achievements to a U.S. education or degree
You should provide evidence of your child’s language training or proficiency in English and in their native language:
Applying for a Green Card for your child through Consular Processing can be complicated. ImmigrationHelp.org can help you prepare your application paperwork for free with our simple online application. Click the button below to get started.