Documents Required to Get a U.S. Green Card for Your Child

If you are a United States national or green card holder, you can support your child for a green card. You and your child will be required to present specific documents to the United States administration when you make an application. The application procedure and documents you will require vary when the child you are pursuing a green card for is residing inside of the US and when they are residing outside of the US. This article will administer as a document checklist for both procedures.

Table of Contents

Documents Required Regardless of Where Your Child Is Residing

Documents to Present with Your Form I-130 “Petition for Foreign Relative”

Evidence of your United States Citizenship

If you are a United States national, you are required to offer evidence of your nationality. Approved documents comprised of:

Your United States birth certificate
Your accurate United States passports
Your naturalization certificate
Certificate of citizenship
Consular report of birth overseas

Evidence of your green card holder (legal permanent resident) status

If you are a legal PR, you are required to offer proof of your PR status. Approved documents comprise:

Your green card (PR card)
Passport provided in another nation and bearing the signature of temporary permanent residence in the US.

Evidence of official name altered

If you or your child has altered their lawful name, you must offer evidence of every name alteration. Approved evidence comprises of:

Marriage certificate
Adoption certificates
Court approval of name alteration

Evidence of your association with your child

If you are the inborn mother or a non-congenital gestational mother of your child, you will be required to offer a copy of your child’s official birth credentials. If you are the inborn parent of your child, you will be required to provide the following:

A copy of your stepchild’s official birth certification
Your marriage certificate to the child’s inborn or lawful gestational mother.
Suppose you and the inborn or lawful gestational mother are no longer married. In that case, you must prove that the marriage was lawfully discontinued by death, annulment, or divorce.
If you did not get married to the child’s mother before the child clocked 18
If the rules where you or your child reside regard the child as legal, you will only be deemed to offer a little information.
If your child is not legitimate under the regulations, you will be required to present proof that you found a genuine father-child connection before the child gets to age 21 or got married. This evidence should indicate strong emotional or monetary involvement in the child’s well-being.

If you are the step-parent of your child, you will be required to offer the following:

Your stepchild’s official birth certificate
Your civil marriage certificate to your stepchild’s inborn or gestational parent.
Evidence of the lawful discontinuation of all past marriages for you and the inborn parent or lawful gestational mother, which could be divorce ruling, death certificate, annulment ruling

If you are the adoptive parent of your child, you will be required to offer the following:

Your child’s original birth certificate
The conclusive adoption ruling
Proof that you had 24 months of lawful possession.
Evidence that you had 24 months of physical possession, which means that the child was residing with you and you possess parental supervision.

Passport pictures of you

Just like a parent striving to obtain a green card, you will be required to offer two passport-pattern photo, which is 2 by 2 inches, of yourself with your Form I-130. These add up to any passport pictures needed by other forms you may be filing at the same period as Form I-130.

Documents to Present with your Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support).

For you to sponsor your child, you are required to present a Form I-864, which is the Affidavit of Support. Form I-864 demands they must submit the following papers from each sponsor:

Evidence of your capacity to monetarily sponsor your child.

At least, you will be required to present a copy of your most current United States tax return. It can also assist in attaching:

Copies of your United States national income tax returns from the last three years.
Pay stubs from half a year ago
A letter from your employer indicating evidence of employment.

Evidence of the worth of your assets. This is for those counting their assets to satisfy the income provisions.

If you are making use of the bank or investment account:

Statement from the bank
Proprietorship documents of stocks, bonds, certificates of deposits, and other investment account.

To those making use of their home:

Evidence of ownership, which includes title or deeds
A current tax evaluation
A recent appraisal by a certified appraiser
Proof of the amount of every loan obtained by a mortgage, trust deed, or other lien of the home.

To those using their second vehicle

A proprietorship document that includes title or deeds for all your cars.
A current appraisal by an approved appraiser or a statement from the vendor proving the present worth of your second car.

Documents Needed to Get Your Child a Green Card Via Change of Status

Documents to present with your child’s Form I-485 “Application to register PR or change status.”

If you are making an application for permanent residence for your child while they are residing in the US, you are required to offer the following with their Form I-485, which is the application to register PR or change status:

Evidence of their country of origin

Their certificate of birth from another nation or
Their passport was provided from another country.

Evidence that they are legally residing in the United States

Their accurate United States visa
Form I-94 travel document

Form I-693, Report of Medical Test and Vaccination Document

You may provide your child’s Form I-693 attached with Form I-485, or later, which can be by mail when the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service demands it or in person at your child’s green card interview if they are needed to go for an interview.

Records of any past communications they have had with law enforcement – if require

Suppose your child has ever been associated with bad communication with law enforcement in their home nation or any other place. In that case, you are required to present evidence of all the interactions. This involves things such as court, prison, or police documents.

Documents of their Past immigration breaches – if required

If your child has ever breached United States immigration laws, you are required to present evidence of all infringements. This has to do with any deportation records and other documents of run-ins with immigration officers that your child has encountered.

Passport Pictures of your child

You will be required to offer two passport-pattern photos, which are 2-by-2 inches, of your child with their Form I-485. These include any passport photos needed by other forms you may be filing at the same time as Form I-485.

Documents to Present with Your Child’s Form I-765 “Application for Employment Approval Documents”

If your child intends to get employed in the US before they obtain their permanent residence, they are required to file Form I-765. This form needs the following accompanying records:

Evidence that they are in the United States lawfully.

Their Form I-94 travel documents
Their valid United States visa, or
Their passport is provided in another nation.

Evidence of your child’s pending Permanent Resident Application, receipt letter, Form I-797C, or notice of Action.

Form I-485 if they are filing together.

Evidence of your child’s past United States Work Approval or Evidence Of Their Country

You are required to present your child’s prior work permit if they have obtained a United States work permit. If your child has never owned a United States work permit, you must present the records listed below as evidence of their nationality.

their certificate of birth and Photo Identity. or
Their visa is provided by the consulate of a nation other than the US or
Their federal ID records with their photo and fingerprint.

Passport images of your child

You will be required to offer two passport-pattern images, which are 2-by-2 inches, of your child with their Form I-765. These include any passport images needed by other forms you may be filing at the same period as Form I-765.

Documents to Present with your child’s Form I-131″ Application for Travel Documents”

If your child intends to be able to vacate the United States temporarily while waiting for their green card, they are required to file Form I-765 as it demands the following supporting records.

Evidence of your child’s ID.

Their passport photo page alone.
Their present work permit, if obtainable or
Their accurate government driver’s license will indicate their name, birth date, and picture.

Evidence of your child’s present immigration status

Their valid United States visa
Any other document provided by USCIS indicating their current status in the US.

Evidence of your child’s pending green card request

Receipt notification ( Form I-797C, Notice of Action.
Their Form I-485 if they are filing jointly

Passport photos of your child

You must offer two passport-pattern photos (2 inches by inches) of your child with their Form I-131. These include any passport images needed by other forms you may be filing at the same period as Form I-131.

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Documents to Present with your child’s Form I-944, “Declaration of Self-Sufficiency” public charge form

A lot of immigrants, which includes children. They are required to file Form I-944 when they apply for a Green Card while residing in the United States. This is genuine even if your child is not up to the age to get employed. You are required to offer the following records with your child’s form I-944.

Evidence of your child’s family revenue

If your child and their family members had to file United States taxes, you must attach their tax returns for the most current tax year.
If your child and their family members resided outside of the United States and did not have to file United States taxes, you are required to attach their International tax transcripts for the most current tax year.
If your child and their family members were not needed to file their taxes for the previous three years, you are required to attach maybe their:
Form W-2s or their social security statements.
If your child and their family members obtained revenue not listed on their United States or Non-United States tax transcript, you are required to attach proof of their non-taxable income, such as:
Unemployment advantage
Child support documents
Pension/retirement advantage checks.

Evidence of your child’s family assets (If required)

Proof of homes your child or their family members own:
Acts or other evidence of ownership
A current appraisal by an authorized appraiser.
Proof of any mortgage or loans obtained against the home
Proof of other assets your child or their family members own
Evidence of ownership for bank accounts, stock retirement accounts, and monetary tools.
Evidence of ownership and valuations for any other liquidated assets.
Account declarations protect the prior year for any checking or savings account.

Evidence of your child’s family liabilities and debts (if required).

If your child or their family members possess debts or other liabilities, you must offer proof for each debt or liability. These involve mortgages, car loans, unpaid taxes, child support, or credit cards. This can be done by offering the following:

Letters from monetary institutions or administrative agencies.
Account declaration
Contracts or loan contract

Suppose your child or their family members have filed for insolvency. In that case, you must offer proof of bankruptcy resolution, court documents, or other documentation indicating that any prior insolvencies have been ultimately settled.

Evidence that your child has good credit

If your child already possesses a United States Credit Score:

Please attach a copy of their free credit document from one of the three national reporting agencies.
If there is a mistake in your child’s credit document, you must offer evidence that you or they have informed the agency of the error and that it is being examined.

If your child does not possess a good credit score in the United States

Provide records from a United States credit bureau verifying that no document or credit score is obtainable.
To ascertain that your child possesses good credit, offer proof that they have paid their bills unfailingly. This evidence comprises of things such as account ledgers, receipts and bills, and other documents.

Evidence of your child’s capacity to make payment for medical treatment

If your child possesses medical insurance, you must offer evidence by attaching the documents listed below. Your child’s health insurance is not sufficient for evidence until it is noted with the policy impact and termination dates.

A complete copy of your child’s health insurance policy describing the kind of protection and persons the policy protects
A letter from an insurance firm verifying that your child is registered in protection that offers information concerning the kind of protection or
A copy of your child’s IRS Form 1095-B or 1095-C verifying your child’s health protection.

Again, you may be required to offer the following details concerning your child’s health insurance to bolster their request:

Records indicating their yearly deductible or dividend.
Records showing their policy expiration or their date of renewal.

If your child makes use of Affordable Care Act tax credits for their health insurance protection, you are required to offer:

A transcript copy of your child’s IRS Form 8963, Which is the Report of Health Insurance Provider Information.
A copy of your child’s IRS Form 8962, which is a Premium Tax Credit
A copy of your child’s Form 1095-A, which is the Health Insurance Marketplace Statement.

If your child’s health insurance scheme has yet to begin at the time, you are required to offer information on their pending coverage. This would consist of a letter from their health insurance firm indicating that they have registered or possess a future registration date for an insurance policy. Ensure that this letter comprises the terms, kind of coverage, persons protected, and when the policy starts.

If your child possesses medical ailments that will influence their capacity to work, go to school, or offer supervision for themselves, you are required to attach:

A letter from their doctor concerning your child’s ailment, predictions, and capacity to get employed or attend college.
A letter from other medical professionals concerning your child’s ailment.
Extra proof that your child possesses the resources to make payment for medical therapy.

Proof concerning your child’s use of public gains (if required)

If you are a United States national, and your child is qualified for citizenship, their usage of public advantages is not essential. You must offer proof that you are federal, they are your children, and they are qualified for citizenship. You will not be required to present any other evidence of your child’s usage of public advantages if this is the situation.

Suppose your child has ever demanded or obtained any public advantages. In that case, you are required to offer a letter or other records from the benefit-awarding agency comprising your child’s name, the agency’s name, the kind of benefit, and the beginning and ending date of the benefit. This occurs even if you demand or obtain these public benefits for your child.

Suppose your child has ever unregistered from benefits or canceled an application for a public benefit. In that case, you must present proof of the unregistration or cancelation from the public benefits. For instance, the letter from the benefit firm indicating that they obtained your child’s application to unregister or cancel from benefit. This occurs even if you signed your child up for these advantages.

If your child belongs to the United States military and has obtained public benefits, you must offer proof of their military service from the endorsing officer of their administrative unit.

If you are part of the United States military and your child obtained public benefits via you, you are mandated to present Form DD-1173, which is the United States Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card – Dependent, with your child’s request.

If your child has obtained Medicaid services for a cause that is not important for a public charge, you must offer the following with their request.

A declaration indicating that their therapy was because of an emergency medical situation
Record that their Medicaid services were financed via the Persons with Disabilities Education Act or academic-based benefits.
A letter from a medical specialist confirming that your child was pregnant for the entire period that they obtained Medicaid.

If your child has an excluded immigration status or has obtained a public charge waiver, you must offer proof of their exclusion or waiver.

An I-797 Approval Notice or I-94 travel record verifying your child’s exclusion immigration status.
An official document indicating that your child obtained a waiver of public charge unacceptably.

Proof concerning fee waivers (If required)

Suppose your child ever obtained or applied for an immigration filing charge waiver. In that case, you must offer any records or proof indicating that their situation has altered since they applied for a fee waiver. This consists of things such as:

health documents
Job contracts
Payment slips

Proof of your child’s caretaking obligations (If required)

If your child is not able to get employed because they are the significant caretakers of a child or a senior adult, you are required to offer proof:

That your child is the primary caregiver
That the person your child is looking after resides with your child, which includes a shared lease, which provides for monetary or medical records indicating their address, and more.
The age of the person your child is looking after, which includes a certificate of birth or a medical situation this person has that needs supervision.

Proof of your child’s education

You must offer proof of your child’s academics from high school and more. This has to do with a lot of the following as you can:

degree credentials
Diploma
Transcripts
If no records are obtainable, you need to include a letter from the academic institution clarifying the reason it is not attainable.

Proof of your child’s professional skills

If your child possesses any vocational experience or internship, you are required to offer proof of it. This has to do with as many of the following as feasible:

Internship certificates
Occupational certificates
Document of training or other qualifications for inexperienced trades.

Proof of your child’s International education or internship

If your child possesses International academics or an internship, you must offer a formal assessment of equality comparing International academic attainments to a United States education or program.

Proof of your child’s English skills

You are required to offer proof of your child’s language apprenticeship or skills in English and their local language:

Transcripts indicating their language or literacy class
High school diplomas or college programs
Credentials indicating present or full language classes.