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What is the IR-5 visa category?

The IR-5 visa is an immediate relative immigrant visa (i.e., a Green Card) for parents of U.S. citizens who are 21 years of age or older.

Because it falls under the “immediate relative” category, the IR-5 has several advantages over other Green Cards:

• Uncapped, meaning there are no numerical limits to available IR-5 visas.
• No waiting for priority dates to be current in a monthly Visa Bulletin (visa availability chart) , which is often required in other family-based categories.
• A relatively simple visa process compared to other immigrant visas.

IR-5 visa applicants are treated like “immediate relatives” and they do not have to wait for a visa number to become available. In other words, IR-5 visas are always “current.”

Who qualifies for the IR-5 family visa?

To qualify for an IR-5 visa, the parent must meet specific requirements, and the U.S. citizen child must also meet eligibility criteria.

U.S. citizen requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen (not a Green Card holder).
• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Must prove the parent-child relationship with birth/adoption records.
• Must agree to financially sponsor the parent (Affidavit of Support).

Green Card holders cannot petition for their parents. Only U.S. citizens can sponsor parents for IR-5 visas.

Parent (beneficiary) requirements

To qualify as a “parent” under immigration rules, the relationship must meet legal definitions.

• Biological parent: Must show birth certificate or equivalent proof.
• Adoptive parent: Adoption must generally be finalized before the child turns 16, and the child must have lived with the adoptive parent for at least 2 years.
• Stepparent: The marriage creating the step-relationship must have occurred before the child turned 18.

In addition, the parent must be admissible to the U.S. (i.e., not barred by criminal, medical, security, or immigration violations, subject to waivers in some situations).

IR-5 visa application process

The IR-5 visa process happens in several stages and involves USCIS, the National Visa Center (NVC), and, often, the U.S. embassy in the parent’s home country.

1. File Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)
2. Wait for USCIS to process the case
3. Transfer to the National Visa Center (NVC)
4. Submit civil documents and forms
5. Attend a consular interview (or adjust status in the U.S.)
6. Receive the immigrant visa and enter the U.S.

File Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)

The U.S. citizen starts the process by filing Form I-130 with USCIS. This petition proves that a qualifying relationship exists and that the U.S. citizen is eligible to sponsor their parent.

USCIS will issue a receipt notice after filing. That notice confirms the petition is in process.

Wait for USCIS to process the case

USCIS processing time varies. During this period, USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) if the petition lacks required proof.

Once approved, USCIS sends the case to the National Visa Center (NVC) for consular processing (if the parent is outside the U.S.).

Transfer to the National Visa Center (NVC)

After USCIS approval, the NVC creates a case number and requests fees, forms, and civil documents for the parent’s immigrant visa application.

Submit civil documents and forms

The parent (and sponsor) submit required forms and documentation through the NVC portal.

• DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application)
• Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) from the U.S. citizen sponsor
• Civil documents (birth certificates, marriage/divorce records, police certificates, passport bio page, etc.)

Attend a consular interview (or adjust status in the U.S.)

If the parent is abroad, they attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate after NVC deems the case “documentarily complete.”

If the parent is already in the U.S. and eligible, they may apply for Adjustment of Status (AOS) instead of consular processing.

Receive the immigrant visa and enter the U.S.

If approved at the interview, the parent receives an immigrant visa in their passport, travels to the U.S., and becomes a lawful permanent resident upon admission.

Required documentation for the IR-5 visa

IR-5 applications require documentation proving the relationship, the sponsor’s status, and the parent’s admissibility.

• U.S. citizen’s proof of citizenship (passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate)
• Proof of parent-child relationship (birth certificate, adoption decree, step-relationship evidence)
• Marriage/divorce records (if applicable)
• Parent’s passport and identity documents
• Police certificates and criminal history documents (as required)
• Medical exam results from an approved physician
• Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) and financial evidence (tax returns, W-2s, pay stubs)

Document requirements can vary by country and by the parent’s history, but the NVC will provide a checklist tailored to the case.

IR-5 visa processing time and fees

Processing time depends on multiple factors: USCIS backlogs, NVC processing, and the specific U.S. embassy/consulate’s interview scheduling.

IR-5 fees typically include filing fees, NVC fees, medical exam costs, and any costs associated with obtaining required civil documents.

Because IR-5 is an immediate relative category, the biggest timing variables are agency processing times and interview availability—not visa number availability.

Rights and benefits after arrival

Once admitted to the U.S., IR-5 visa holders become lawful permanent residents. They can live permanently in the U.S. and work for any employer. They can also travel freely in and out of the U.S. Most importantly, IR-5 parents can apply for U.S. citizenship (https://manifestlaw.com/blog/permanent-resident-vs-citizen/) after 5 years as permanent residents.

How to check the status of an IR-5 application

You can check the I-130 petition status through USCIS using the receipt number. After transfer to NVC, case status and document progress are tracked through the NVC portal.

If the case is at a U.S. embassy/consulate, interview scheduling and next steps depend on that post’s procedures and capacity.

Is the IR-5 Green Card right for your parents?

The IR-5 visa is often the best option for parents of U.S. citizens because it offers a direct path to permanent residence without visa caps or priority date backlogs.

However, each case is unique. Admissibility issues, prior immigration history, or documentation challenges can affect outcomes and timelines.

Stay Informed. Stay Ahead.

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Manifest Law is here to help. If you’re considering an IR-5 visa for your parents, we can evaluate your situation, identify potential risks, and guide you through the process with a strategy built for USCIS scrutiny.