What Is the IR5 Visa

The IR5 visa is a green card for parents of US citizens. It allows your parents to legally live and work in the United States without an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). 

This visa is issued at the US embassy or consulate in the country where your parents currently reside. The IR5 has no annual cap as this is an immediate relative visa. Applicants who meet the required criteria can get an IR5 green card without waiting for their application to become current.

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IR-5 Visa Eligibility Criteria

The IR5 parent visa enables your parents to  live and work in the US freely. However, certain conditions must be met:

The US citizen must be:

  • At least 21 years old 
  • Live in the US and have a registered address 
  • Able to financially support their parents until they start working 

The parents must:

  • Live overseas
  • Prove their relationship with the US citizen   
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Documents Required for IR5 Visa

Each IR5 parent visa application is unique. However, when applying for the IR5 green card, you will need to submit most of all of the following documents: 

  • A passport that’s valid at least six months after entering the US
  • A signed I-864, an affidavit from your US petitioner
  • DS-260 Form confirmation page 
  • Approved Form I-130
  • Medical examination and vaccination documents 
  • A valid birth certificate proving the relationship between you and your US petitioner
  • Two photographs (for each parent) that fit the US visa application requirements 
  • Military records (if applicable) 
  • Court, criminal records, and police certificate

These documents should be in English. If not, you must provide a certified English translation.

IR-5 Visa

$2,500

Plus $750 for an additional parent

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IR5 Visa Application Process

To obtain an IR5 visa for your parents, consular processing is required. Here’s how the process works and how we can help you.

Filing I-130 Application 

We will fill out the Form I-130 for you and start the IR5 visa process. We will advise you on what documents you need to make sure your petition is accurate. 

Approval and Transfer

Once approved, the USCIS will send the application to the National Visa Center (NVC), which will share your case number, and invoice ID number (confirming the payment of your visa fees), along with instructions for the next step of application.

Applying for an IR5 Green Card

This is the second stage of applying for an IR5 green card for your parents. We will help your parents follow the instructions shared by NVC and fill out Form DS-260, which is your parent’s application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration. We will also prepare Form I-864 on your behalf, which is your signed affidavit to accept financial responsibility for your parents until they start working.

Supporting Documents 

We will help you and your parents prepare and submit the required documents and affidavits to avoid any delays and lower the risk of rejection.

Medical Examination and Vaccination 

Your parents will need to get a medical examination and vaccines from embassy-approved physicians. We can help your parents find the nearest clinic and schedule an appointment. 

However, your parents may be eligible for a blanket or individual vaccine waiver, depending on their situation. The process starts with filling out form I-601, an Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility. Our attorneys can help your parents navigate this complex process.

IR5 Visa Interview 

Once the application is processed, the consulate or embassy will schedule a visa interview for your parents. We can help your parents prepare for the interview and gather all the required documents. 

Visa Issuance 

Unless there is a need for additional information or checks, your parents should hear from the embassy or consulate in a week or two. After approval, your parents will receive a packet, which they must not open themselves. The immigration officer will open it at their port of entry.

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What’s the Validity of the IR5 Visa?

With an IR5 visa, your parents can live and work in the US permanently. However, green cards are typically valid for ten years. Your parents  will need to renew their green card six months before its expiry. The renewal process is simple and Blue Lake Law is here to help you every step of the way.

How Blue Lake Law Can Assist You

Although applying for an IR5 green card can seem overwhelming, we are here to help you at every step. Blue Lake Law, led by managing attorney George Lake, offers tailored advice to all its clients. 

We can help you: 

  • Accurately fill out for I-130 and DS-260
  • Thoroughly check your supporting documents
  • Guide you at every step of the application process 
  • Provide post-approval support 

What Our Clients Say

“I would highly recommend George as a lawyer for US law and immigration law. He is very friendly, open-minded and helps out comprehensively. He is always available for questions and gave me detailed advice concerning visa issues. Thank you a lot!”

Vanessa Ra

“I highly recommend hiring George for any of your immigration needs. He’s knowledgeable, kind, professional, and always willing to answer any questions in a timely manner. His fees are reasonable and we had an overall good experience. He’s licensed to practice law in California, as well as abroad, which makes him highly knowledgeable in many aspects of immigration law. My husband and I are very thankful we utilized George as our attorney.”

Amber Krumbach

“Blue Lake Law assisted me in the Green card application process for my relatives. They were able to expedite the process and are extremely knowledgeable of the requirements. Furthermore they guide you thru the process very smoothly, and their email replies are usually within a few hours max.”

Joel van Oorschot