Parent Sponsoring Child for Green Card: Delores’ Journey
[Please note: The Client’s name and case key details may have been altered to preserve the identity of the client. This Success Story about Parent sponsoring child for green card is not intended to be an offer of service or case plan. Every case is unique. The Success Story is presented for information purposes only.]
In 2015, Delores, a woman from Mexico in her late 30s, arrived in Northeast Ohio on an F-1 visa to complete her education at a respected university.
During her studies, Delores excelled academically and completed an internship at a prestigious firm. Impressed by her performance, the company decided to sponsor her for an H-1B visa and an employer-based green card. They partnered with the Cleveland office of [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″] to help Delores obtain legal permanent residency.
The Green Card Process Begins
Our team ensured all U.S. Department of Labor procedures were followed. By November 2019, we filed Delores’ I-485 application for legal permanent residency. She was thrilled—not only about her green card and future U.S. citizenship—but also because she had recently reconnected with her daughter, Vivia, after years of estrangement.
Vivia had entered the U.S. on a B-2 visa, which she overstayed. She struggled with substance misuse but turned her life around through counseling and was now working full-time. Delores asked our team if she could sponsor her daughter for a green card.
At that time, Vivia was under 21, which made her a “child” under USCIS rules. Sponsorship is easier for children under 21, but once they turn 21, the process can take years. Delores needed her green card first to file an I-130 petition for Vivia before her 21st birthday.
A Race Against Time
We prepared all paperwork in advance. Delores received her green card in November 2020, just weeks before Vivia’s 21st birthday. We filed the I-130 petition immediately. This allowed us to request protection under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), which can freeze a child’s age for immigration purposes. Approval is at USCIS discretion, but filing before age 21 was critical.
Next Steps for Vivia
Although her green card is not guaranteed yet, Vivia is optimistic. She is working with us on a 601A waiver for her visa overstay—a key step toward legal permanent residency. Vivia told us, “If it takes years, then it takes years!” If you need guidance on parent sponsoring child for green card, contact our office today. We are here to help you navigate every step of the process.