Green Card for the Child of a US Citizen

Many children born abroad to a US citizen parent are US citizens from birth, depending on the parent's time in the US before the birth. A child who is already a citizen needs a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or a US passport, not a green card. Read citizenship by descent before you file anything.

Also, under the Child Citizenship Act, a child under 18 who becomes a green card holder and lives in the US in the legal and physical custody of a citizen parent usually becomes a citizen automatically. The family can then apply for a US passport or a Certificate of Citizenship.

For immigration, a "child" is unmarried and under 21, and is one of these:

What if the child turns 21 or marries?

• Turns 21 after you file: the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) freezes the child's age on the date the I-130 was filed, so the child stays an immediate relative.
• Already 21 and unmarried: the child is in the F1 category, which has a wait.
• Married, any age: the child is in the F3 category, which has a longer wait.

If you are a green card holder rather than a citizen, see F2A for children under 21 and F2B for unmarried sons and daughters 21 and over.

A child who will become a citizen automatically on arrival may qualify for an exemption from the Affidavit of Support (Form I-864W).

The Affidavit of Support (Form I-864). The petitioner must promise to support the immigrant and show household income of at least 125% of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size (100% for active-duty military sponsoring a spouse or child). If the income is too low, assets can help, or a joint sponsor who meets the test can sign a second I-864. The promise is a legal contract that usually lasts until the immigrant becomes a citizen or has 40 quarters of work. Check your numbers with our I-864 income calculator.

If the child is in the US: they can file Form I-485 at the same time as the I-130 ("concurrent filing"), because immediate relatives never wait for a visa number. They generally must have been inspected and admitted or paroled into the US. Immediate relatives can often adjust even after overstaying or working without permission, but the 2026 memo says these allowances are now weighed as a matter of discretion. See adjustment of status.

If the child is abroad: after USCIS approves the I-130, the case moves to the National Visa Center (NVC). You pay fees and submit the DS-260, civil documents, and the Affidavit of Support, then the interview happens at a US embassy or consulate. See consular processing.

If the child entered without inspection: adjustment in the US is usually not possible. Leaving for a consular interview can trigger the 3-year or 10-year bar for unlawful presence, and a provisional waiver (Form I-601A) filed before leaving may help in some cases. Talk to a licensed immigration lawyer before anyone leaves the US. See visa denials and waivers.

The 2026 adjustment of status memo. On May 21, 2026, USCIS issued a policy memo (PM-602-0199) that treats adjustment of status as a discretionary benefit. USCIS said that people who are in the US on a temporary visa and want a green card should expect to apply from their home country, except in extraordinary circumstances. The memo applies to pending and new Form I-485 filings. Meeting the legal requirements is now treated as the minimum: officers weigh your whole record, including whether you used your visa for its stated purpose. Legal challenges were expected, so check the current position before you file.

The 2026 interview freeze. Since August 25, 2026, the State Department has paused scheduling of immigrant visa interviews worldwide while consular officers train on public charge screening. No restart date had been announced as of September 22, 2026. Track it on our immigrant visa pause page.

Travel ban. Nationals of the 39 countries covered by the travel ban (Proclamation 10998, in effect since January 1, 2026) generally cannot receive immigrant visas abroad, and USCIS has held many pending applications from those countries for extra review.

Public charge. A new public charge rule took effect on September 18, 2026. It replaces the 2022 rule with a broader "totality of the circumstances" test of whether you are likely to rely on government support.

Government fees as of September 2026, from the USCIS fee schedule:

Check the USCIS fee calculator before paying. To estimate the total for your situation, try our sponsorship cost estimator.

Most cases rely on birth certificates. If documents are missing or unreliable in the child's country, the officer may suggest a DNA test at an accredited lab, paid by the family. Keep adoption decrees, custody orders, and marriage certificates (for stepchildren) ready, with certified translations of anything not in English.