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How Can I Bring My Parents to Visit the United States?

This article will help answering some of the basic questions you may have if you would like your parents to temporarily visit you in the United States. However, we encourage you to talk to an experienced lawyer about your specific case in order to avoid any potential problems and complications.

If your parents want to temporarily visit (and not permanently live in ) the United States, they must first obtain a visitor visa (visa category B-1/B-2). Visitor visas are non-immigrant visas for persons who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (visa category B-1), tourism, pleasure or visiting (visa category B-2), or a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2).

Some examples of activities permitted with a B-1 Business Visa include: consulting with business associates; attending a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference; settling an estate; negotiating a contract.

Some examples of activities permitted with a B-2 Tourism and Visit Visa include: tourism; vacation (holiday); visiting with friends or relatives; medical treatment; participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations; participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating; enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation).

Some examples of activities that require different categories of visas and cannot be done while on a visitor visa include: study; employment; paid performances, or any professional performance before a paying audience; arrival as a crew-member on a ship or aircraft; work as foreign press, radio, film, journalists, and other information media; permanent residence in the United States.

A) Do My Parents Need a Visa?

If your parents are citizens of one of the 38 currently designated countries, they may be able to visit the United States on Visa Waiver Program. Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of certain countries to come to the United States without a visa for a stay of 90 days or less. For more information, and to see a list of designated countries, please visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html .

If your parents’ country of citizenship is not on the list, or if they would like to visit the United States for longer than 3 months, they will need to apply for a visitor visa.

B) How to Apply for a Visitor Visa (visa category B-1/B-2)?

To apply for a visitor visa, your parents will need complete the Online Non-immigrant Visa Application (Form DS-160). It needs to be completed and submitted online and is available on the Department of State website: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ .

C) What to Expect after Applying for Visa?

Once your parents applied for a visitor visa online, they will go to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where they live for a visa interview.

If your parents are 80 years old or older, then an interview is generally not required. But if your parents are under 80, then an interview is usually required (with some exceptions for renewals).

Your parents must schedule an appointment for their visa interview, generally, at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where they live. While visa applicants may schedule their interview at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate, it may be difficult to qualify for a visa outside of the applicant’s place of permanent residence.

The Department of State encourages applicants, including your parents, to apply for their visa early because the wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category.

Before the interview, your parents have to gather and prepare the following documents required by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate: (1) a valid passport (must be valid for at least six months beyond their period of stay in the United States); (2) non-immigrant visa application (Form DS-160) confirmation page; (3) application fee payment receipt; (4) photo.

D) What to Expect during the Visitor Visa Interview?

During your parents’ visa interview, a consular officer will determine whether they are qualified to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate based on their purpose of travel.

To be approved for a visitor visa, your parents will need to show that:

They are coming to the United States temporarily for an authorized purpose, such as to visit their family, to travel, to visit sightseeing sites, etc.
They will not engage in unauthorized activities such as employment. Sometimes, even babysitting a relative’s child may be considered unauthorized employment. For example, while your mother is certainly allowed to visit your child – her grandchild – and spend time with him or her, she cannot be coming specifically for the purpose of babysitting the child.
They have permanent residence in their home country, to which they will return. This is shown by demonstrating close ties to their home country such as family relationships, employment, business ownership, school attendance, and/or property ownership.
They have sufficient financial means to pay for travel expenses and expenses of intended activities. If your parents cannot cover all the costs for their trip, they may show evidence that you or another person will cover some or all costs for their trip.

To establish that your parents qualify for a visa, they must prepare documentation to prove that they satisfy the above requirements. For that reason, it is important that your parents thoroughly prepare for their interview and collect all the necessary documents. A good attorney can guide them through this process.

E) What Happens after the Visitor Visa Interview?

At your parents’ visa interview, their applications may be approved, denied, or they may require further administrative processing.

If your parents’ visas are approved, they will be informed how and when their passports with visas will be returned to them.

If your parents’ visas are denied, they can reapply at any time. However, unless there is a substantial change in their circumstances, it will be very difficult to receive a visa after a denial. For that reason, it is best to consult an experienced attorney before your parents initially apply for a visa to improve their chances of an approval.

F) What Happens after Visa Approval?

When your parents enter the United States with a visitor visa, they will usually be permitted to stay in the United States for up to 6 months, although the specific time they are allowed to stay will be determined at the border and indicated on your parents’ Form I-94. If your parents wish to stay beyond the time indicated on the Form I-94, they may apply for an extension or change of status.

For more information about visitor visas and application process, please see the Department of State website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html .

It is important to get in touch with a good immigration lawyer in the United States as early as possible to avoid potential problems and to plan the best immigration strategy for your family. Attorneys at I.S. Law Firm have provided immigration help to many immigrants and their families. To learn more about our services and for consultation, please contact us at +1-703-527-1779 or via e-mail: [email protected] .

Article Information

Article Title: How Can I Bring My Parents to Visit the United States?

Short Description: Many immigrants who live in the United States want to “sponsor” their parents to come to the United States either to visit their family or to live permanently with their family. The term “sponsor” usually means to bring to the United States or “petition for.” Such immigrants often reach out to immigration lawyers in the United States for guidance on how to sponsor their parents to come to the United States for either purpose. This article will help answering some of the basic questions you may have if you would like your parents to temporarily visit you in the United States.

Author: Ismail Shahtakhtinski

Publisher - Orgnization: I.S. Law Firm, PLLC

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US Visa Guide for Senior Citizens | Step-by-Step

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to apply for a US visa for senior citizens. Navigating the visa application process can be daunting, but we’re here to make it easier for you. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process and provide valuable tips to ensure a smooth application experience. Whether you’re planning a vacation, visiting family, or exploring business opportunities in the United States, we’ve got you covered.

Key Takeaways:

Senior citizens (age 80 and above) have certain exemptions in the US visa application process.
The application process involves creating a profile, completing the DS-160 form, paying the visa application fee, and gathering the required documents.
Senior citizens may be exempt from fingerprinting and interviews.
Documents can be submitted at an approved office or sent through a courier service.
Upon approval, the visa will be issued and returned to the applicant.

Exemptions for Senior Citizens in the US Visa Application Process

Senior citizens (age 80 and above) and children under 14 enjoy exemptions in the US visa application process, making it easier and more convenient for them to apply. These exemptions alleviate certain requirements, such as the need for fingerprinting and, in many cases, even interviews. These guidelines have been put in place to streamline the application process, recognizing the unique circumstances of elderly individuals and minors.

“The exemptions for senior citizens and children under 14 in the US visa application process are designed to make it more accessible and less burdensome for these individuals. We understand their specific needs and aim to provide a smooth experience throughout the application journey.”

By exempting senior citizens and children under 14 from certain requirements, the US visa application process acknowledges the challenges and limitations that these individuals may face. These exemptions recognize the importance of facilitating their travel to the United States while maintaining the necessary security measures.

These exemptions enable senior citizens and children under 14 to navigate the US visa application process more efficiently, eliminating unnecessary steps and procedures. By simplifying the process for these individuals, the aim is to provide a more accessible and inclusive experience.

Creating a Profile and Paying the Visa Application Fee

Senior citizens who meet the age requirements can start their US visa application process by creating a profile. This profile will serve as the foundation for their application. To create a profile, seniors will need to complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.

The DS-160 form is a comprehensive application that asks for personal information, including contact details, travel history, and other relevant details. It is essential to provide accurate and truthful information to ensure a smooth application process.

Once the DS-160 form is completed, seniors will need to pay the visa application fee. The fee payment can be made online through the applicant system, ensuring a convenient and secure transaction process.

To determine whether a senior citizen is eligible for a mail-in application and exemption from an interview, the profile creation process may involve answering specific questions. These questions are designed to establish eligibility and streamline the application process for seniors.

Creating a profile and paying the visa application fee are critical steps in the US visa application process for seniors . By providing accurate information and following the necessary procedures, senior citizens can ensure a successful start to their visa application journey.

Tips for Creating a Profile and Paying the Visa Application Fee:

Double-check all information provided in the DS-160 form to ensure accuracy.
Keep all required documents and information readily available when filling out the form.
Make sure to have a valid method of payment to complete the visa application fee.
Review the eligibility requirements to determine whether a mail-in application and exemption from an interview apply.
Reach out to the relevant authorities or consult a visa expert if there are any uncertainties during the profile creation and fee payment process.

Creating a profile and paying the visa application fee is just the beginning of the US visa application journey for senior citizens. The next step is gathering the required documents, which will be discussed in the following section.

Gathering Required Documents for Senior Citizens

When applying for a US visa, senior citizens need to gather specific documents to complete their application successfully. These documents include:

DS-160 confirmation page
Fee receipt
Current and previous passports
Recent photo
Letter explaining travel purpose and itinerary

Additionally, depending on the visa category, senior citizens may need to provide additional documentation. This can include proof of relationship for dependent children or a statement from a non-traveling parent authorizing the child’s travel.

It is crucial to ensure that all documents are accurate, up-to-date, and readily available when submitting the visa application.

For a detailed breakdown of the necessary documents for senior citizens applying for a US visa, refer to the table below:

Submitting the Application Documents

Once senior citizens have completed their profile, filled out the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form, and gathered all the necessary documents, it’s time to submit their application.

There are two options for submitting the application documents:

Drop-off at an Approved Partner’s Office: Senior citizens can personally drop off their application documents at an approved partner’s office. This ensures secure and efficient delivery of the documents.
Courier Service: Alternatively, senior citizens can choose to send their application documents through a reliable courier service. This is a convenient option for those who prefer not to travel or who live far from an approved partner’s office.

The specific instructions for document submission will be provided in the interview waiver letter. This letter will contain detailed information on where to drop off the documents or which courier partner to use. It is important to follow these instructions carefully to ensure a smooth and successful application process.

Once the documents are submitted, the courier partner or UPS will safely deliver them to the Consular section for processing.

Visa Approval and Passport Return

Once the senior citizen’s application for a US visa is approved by the Consulate, the next step is the issuance of the visa. The visa will be attached to the passport and returned to the applicant.

In order to ensure a smooth and convenient process, there are two options for the return of the passport containing the granted visa:

UPS Courier Service: The Consulate will send the passport with the visa to the applicant’s provided address using UPS courier service. This ensures a secure and reliable delivery right at the doorstep.
Mail Boxes Etc. Location: Alternatively, the applicant can choose to pick up the passport with the visa at a chosen Mail Boxes Etc. location. This provides a convenient option for individuals who prefer in-person collection.

Regardless of the chosen method, it is essential to ensure that the passport is collected promptly upon notification of its availability. Failure to do so may result in additional delays or complications.

Overview of US Visitor Visas

Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas that allow individuals to enter the United States temporarily for various purposes.

The two main categories of visitor visas are:

B-1 visa: The B-1 visa is designed for individuals traveling to the United States for business purposes. This includes attending conferences, meetings, negotiations, or engaging in other professional activities.
B-2 visa: The B-2 visa is for individuals traveling to the United States for tourism, leisure activities, or medical treatment. This can include visiting family or friends, going on vacation, participating in social events, or seeking medical care.

It’s important to note that visitor visas can be obtained for a combination of both purposes. For example, someone may visit the United States for both business and tourism.

Benefits of US Visitor Visas

“Visitor visas offer individuals the opportunity to explore the United States, engage in business activities, visit loved ones, and experience the country’s rich culture and attractions. Whether it’s attending a professional conference or enjoying a vacation, visitor visas provide flexibility for temporary stays in the United States.”

Comparison of B-1 and B-2 Visas

The B-1 and B-2 visas have similar durations, allowing individuals to stay in the United States for up to six months. However, it’s important to comply with the terms of the specific visa category and any limitations imposed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection upon entry.

Images showcasing the diversity of people visiting the United States can provide a glimpse into the enriching experiences available to visitors.

When preparing to apply for a US visitor visa, it’s essential to understand the specific requirements and documentation needed for each visa category. By doing so, applicants can successfully navigate the application process and plan their visit accordingly.

Applying for a US Visitor Visa

Applying for a US visitor visa is a straightforward process that involves a few essential steps. By following these steps, you can increase your chances of obtaining a visa to visit the United States. Here’s a detailed guide on how to apply for a US visitor visa:

Step 1: Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160)

The first step in the application process is to complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) form. This form can be filled out online and requires you to provide your personal information, travel plans, and details about your previous US visits, if applicable. Make sure to double-check all the information before submitting the form.

Step 2: Schedule an Interview

After completing the DS-160 form, you will need to schedule an interview at the nearest US embassy or consulate. The interview is generally required for visa applicants, as it allows the consular officer to assess your eligibility and intentions for visiting the US. However, there are exceptions for young children and senior citizens.

Step 3: Gather Required Documentation

Prior to your visa interview, gather all the required documentation. This typically includes:

A valid passport with a minimum of six months’ validity beyond your intended stay in the US
The DS-160 confirmation page
Photographs that meet the specified requirements
Evidence of financial ability to cover your expenses during your stay
Proof of ties to your home country, such as property ownership, employment, or family
Supporting documents specific to your visa category (if applicable)

Step 4: Pay the Application Fee

Before attending the interview, you will need to pay the non-refundable visa application fee. The fee amount depends on the type of visa you are applying for. Payment instructions will be provided on the official website of the US embassy or consulate in your country.

Step 5: Attend the Visa Interview

On the scheduled date, attend your visa interview at the designated US embassy or consulate. Be prepared to answer questions about the purpose of your visit, your ties to your home country, and your plans during your stay in the US. It is essential to be honest, concise, and confident during the interview.

Step 6: Visa Issuance and Passport Return

If your visa application is approved, the consular officer will issue your visa and provide further instructions. Your passport, along with the visa, will be returned to you either by mail or for pick-up at a specified location. Make sure to follow the instructions provided and keep your visa and passport in a secure place.

Visa Interview and Administrative Processing

The visa interview is a crucial step in the US visa application process. Consular officers carefully assess the applicant’s eligibility based on their documentation and the interview. This face-to-face interaction allows the officers to verify the information provided, ask additional questions, and gauge the applicant’s intent to travel to the United States.

During the interview, it is essential for the applicant to be honest, clear, and confident in their answers. They should also be prepared to provide any additional supporting documents if requested by the officer. The interview aims to ensure that the applicant meets all the necessary requirements and qualifies for the visa they are applying for.

In some cases, after the initial interview, the application may require further administrative processing. This is a standard procedure conducted by the consular staff to review the application more extensively. Administrative processing may involve additional security checks or the need for further documentation. The processing time can vary, and applicants are advised to be patient while their application undergoes this review.

Once the visa is approved, the applicant may be required to pay a visa issuance fee. This fee is applicable to certain visa categories and must be paid before the visa can be issued. The consular staff will provide specific instructions on how to pay the fee and any further steps required to finalize the visa issuance process.

After the visa is approved and the visa issuance fee is paid, the applicant can make arrangements for the return of their passport and visa. This can typically be done through a pick-up location or delivery service specified by the consular staff.

Navigating the visa interview and administrative processing stages is essential to gaining approval for a US visa. By preparing thoroughly, answering questions confidently, and providing accurate documentation, applicants can increase their chances of obtaining the desired visa and fulfilling their travel aspirations.

Applying for a US visa as a senior citizen can seem daunting, but with the right guidance and preparation, the process can be manageable and successful. By following the specific steps outlined in this guide and ensuring that all necessary forms are completed accurately, fees are paid, and required documentation is submitted, senior citizens can navigate the visa application with ease.

Understanding the process and requirements is key to a smooth application experience. Senior citizens should take advantage of the exemptions and benefits available to them, such as the waiver of fingerprinting and interview requirements. This can significantly streamline the application process and make it more accessible for elderly individuals.

Whether planning to visit loved ones, explore tourist attractions, or engage in business activities, senior citizens can pursue their travel aspirations to the United States. By following this comprehensive US visa application guide, senior citizens can successfully apply for a US visa and embark on a memorable journey to the United States.

What exemptions do senior citizens have in the US visa application process?

Senior citizens (age 80 and above) or children under 14 may not need to be fingerprinted or interviewed when applying for a US visa.

How do senior citizens create a profile and pay the visa application fee?

Senior citizens can create a profile and pay the visa application fee online through the applicant system.

What documents are required for senior citizens applying for a US visa?

Senior citizens need to gather documents such as passports, photos, the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form confirmation page, fee receipt, and a letter explaining their travel purpose and itinerary.

How can senior citizens submit their application documents?

Senior citizens can either drop off their documents at an approved office or send them through a courier service as instructed in the interview waiver letter.

What happens after the senior citizen’s US visa application is approved?

If the application is approved, the Consulate will issue the visa, and the passport containing the visa will be returned to the applicant either by UPS courier service or for pick-up at a Mail Boxes Etc. location.

What are US visitor visas?

US visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas that allow individuals to enter the United States temporarily for purposes such as business (B-1 visa) and tourism/leisure activities (B-2 visa).

How can I apply for a US visitor visa?

To apply for a US visitor visa, you need to complete the online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160), schedule an interview, gather required documentation, and pay the application fee.

What is the visa interview and administrative processing?

The visa interview is a crucial step in the US visa application process, where consular officers assess the applicant’s eligibility. Administrative processing may be required in some cases, involving further review of the application.

What should senior citizens know about applying for a US visa?

Senior citizens can successfully apply for a US visa by following specific steps and gathering the necessary documents. It’s important to complete the forms, pay the fees, and submit the required documentation accurately.

Source Links

https://www.ustraveldocs.com/de/de-svc-visachild.asp
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wizard.html

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Parents Visitor Visa USA - Documents, Checklist, letters Templates

US Visitor Visa(B2) for Parents – Process, Sample Documents

One of the most frequently asked questions among friends, either during graduation time, after they start working in the US, or if they are expecting a baby, is “What is the process to apply for a visitor or tourist visa(B2 visa) to parents to come to the USA? What documents do I need? How do I start ?”

The below article covers the step-by-step process to apply for a B2 visitor visa for parents or family members, including sample documents and templates.

Basic Requirements: Passports, Funds for US Trip, Documents

The two most important things you need to plan before applying for a visa are passports for your parents and the funds required for their travel to the US.

Getting Parents’ Passports

The first step before you plan the B2 Visa is to apply for a passport for your parents if they do not have one.
Depending on the country, the time to get a passport can vary. Consider the time to get the passport when you plan the overall time to get a B2 Visitor visa for them.
Check out the passport application website for details. You may read our article on applying for How to do passport renewal in India to get an idea of the process.

Bank Savings for Sponsorship

If you are paying for your parents’ trip, you need to have enough funds secured for the same.
There is no official guidance on how much money you need to have in the bank account from the US Department of State. They say the applicants must have enough funds to pay for the trip.
You can do a ballpark estimate of the expenses that your parents might incur based on flight tickets, local travel, etc., and come up with an amount you think makes sense.
As a rule of thumb, a good amount totaling up to $10,000 Dollars or more to cover their expenses would be ideal to have in the bank account.
It is advised to start saving for the same three months before and accumulate steadily rather than just borrowing money and putting it in the bank. Again, there is no hard-and-fast rule, just some general guidance.

Also, it is important to secure all the relevant documents about your status in the US as they would be important for the process. Let’s look at them below.

Employment Letter from your Company or Graduation Letter

When you invite your parents or family, one of the things that a US Consular officer would look at is your current US Visa status and supporting documentation for the same. You may need to get a different set of documentation based on your status as an employee working in the US or a student studying in the US.

Below are the two main options based on your situation:

Working in the US on a Visa (H1B, L1, OPT , Green Card) – Employment Letter

If you are working on a work visa, you need to get an employment letter from your current company verifying that you are working in the US on H1B, L1, or other visa, including Green Card, OPT or STEM OPT. This is to make sure you are in good standing in the US and are getting paid to support the travel of your parents.

Depending on the company, your company may ask for details of your parents or their passport copies and directly address the employment verification letter to the consulate. There is no rule or format given by the US Consulate. You are free to use what your company gives. Check the sample templates section at the end of the article, if you want a sample. All they care is if you are employed and in good standing.

The employment verification Letter should have information like when you joined them, what role you are working in, and how much salary you make. Some employers are quick, and some are slow in doing this. Plan well and make sure you have it with you.

International Student on F1 Visa – Graduation Invitation

If you are an F1 international Student inviting your parents for Graduation, you need to send your current status details like your F1 Visa copy, I-94 copy , I-20, and Graduation invitation letter to your parents. This would act like an invite as well as supporting documentation for them.

Step-by-Step Process for Parents’ US Visitor Visa (B2)

Below are the various steps that you can follow to apply for a visitor visa for parents. Some of these can be done in parallel, but below is a general step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Complete DS-160, Book US Visa Appointment

Before booking your parents’ US Visa stamping appointment, you must fill in Form DS-160, which is nothing but the online Nonimmigrant US Visa application form. Make sure you have scan copies of their passports before you start the process to avoid issues. Sometimes, your employer may also ask for the same for documentation.

Complete Form DS-160 Online for Parents

Unless your parents are well educated and have all the facilities, such as a computer with internet access, etc., they may not be able to do DS-160 on their own. It would be better if you fill it out for them and then declare the same at the end. It saves a lot of pain for your parents to fill it out without any mistakes.

Important Info to know before you fill out Form DS-160 Form for Parents

Separate DS-160 Forms: You must create separate DS-160 application profiles for every visitor visa applicant. If you invite both your mother and father, you must create two DS-160 Profiles online separately for your parents.
Creating Family Member DS-160 from the Thank you page : When you are filling out the first DS-160 form for the first family member, at the end, when you select ‘Email Confirmation’ on the confirmation page, you will go to “Thank you ” page and on that page you will have the option to create a family or group application, you can choose this option so that some of the information from your first application will be copied over and imported. Of course, you can change those details as needed.
Required info to Fill DS-160 form: You will need a lot of information like education details, work history, identification info, etc. We have compiled the entire list of required items for DS-160 and tips to fill the same. Read the article: Documents Needed to Fill out DS-160 Form, to get an idea.
Filling up the DS-160, Declaration: If you are filling out forms on behalf of your parents, at the end of the completion of DS-160 form, there is a section that reads ‘Sign and Submit page’, you should fill out your details as a third party and then inform your parents regarding the endorsement of the application by them and help them click on sign and submit button. You may check more info and discussion on sign and submit option.

Where to Fill out DS-160 online at the Official State.gov website

You should go to the Official US Govt State.gov website for DS-160 form Creation. Here is the link: US Govt ceac.state.gov Non-Immigrant Visa Application Website

If you have any questions, you can visit any of the below links to fill the DS-160 form.
US Travel Docs India Official Website: Info on DS-160 form
US State Govt Website: FAQs on DS-160 form

Once you complete the DS-160 form, next step is to pay the fee and book visa interview appointment.

Booking US Visa Interview Appointment , Native Language

You need to book a visa appointment at a US embassy/ consulate to get B2 Visa stamping to travel to the US. It involves paying fees, selecting a location, and interview language. Let’s look in detail.

US Consulate Location for Interview: Depending on your home country, there may be one or more locations in your country. You need to choose the US Consulate that is close to where your parents live. For instance, in India, each consulate has a list of states that they serve. Depending on your state, you need to select the respective Consulate. You can read US Consulates India – What states they serve, contact info .
India Consulates – No Option to Choose Language in System: Starting from 2023 with the new system in place, in India, you do not have the option to choose the interview language such as your mother tongue like Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, etc. You will only get the option of English. If you feel your parents are not fluent in English, then you can ask them to request a local translator at the US Consulate/ Embassy on the day of the interview. For India, depending on the consulate, some languages may not be available. So, it is important to attend the interview at a location that is relevant for your state. You can check US Consulates Contact Info, Served States for more info. You can email the consulate/ embassy beforehand to be sure as well.
You need to create an account and follow the process in there. You will be asked to pay the fee online for booking an appointment.
If you cannot pay online, you may need to go to the bank, pay it there, and get a code to use for booking an appointment.
You do not need two accounts, you can add your parents as family in the same account and book visa interview appointment.
If you are booking an appointment in India, you can read How to Create Account on USVisaScheduling.com

You can also read the complete guide apply for a US Visa Appointment for step-by-step process.

Step 2: Prepare for US Visitor Visa(B2) Interview, Documents

You will need to prepare and carry all relevant documents for the US Visitor visa interview for your parents. You will need to send them invite letters, sponsorship letters and other info. Let’s look at each of them.

Funds Proof – Bank Account Balance Lette r, Sample

If you are sponsoring your parents or in-laws trip, you need to send the relevant proof to show that there are enough funds in your bank. While you can print out the Bank statements online, it is recommend that you go to your Bank and get a Bank verification or Bank Balance Statement Letter signed and stamped by the Bank officer.

Go to the primary bank, where you have your longest standing account and the bank which has your savings and ask them to give you a Bank Verification letter for Visa. Depending on the bank, the process can vary.

For instance, at Chase Bank they do it instantly. For Bank of America, or others they make take couple weeks or more. Do this in advance. All they do is, give a letter saying when the bank account was opened and average running balance since opening. It is just a simple letter. If possible, get the visiting card of the bank manager( not necessary, more documentation the better). Check out Sample Bank Verification Letter for Parents Visa

Invitation Letter, Visa Officer Cover Letter, Other Documents

Below are the other set of documents that you will need to have ready for the visa interview, so that your parents or in-laws can show the same.

Invitation Letter: You need to send an invitation letter to your parents saying that you are inviting them to visit you and sign it. It supports your parents intent to come to the US and you are inviting them to visit. You can get a sample template copy in the below section.
Visa officer Cover letter: It is recommended to send a cover letter with all the documentation addressing the visa officer. It just lets you keep in track of what you are sending and if visa officer needs to check, it is easier for him and more clear for our parents. See the templates section below.
Copies of W2 Form, Pay stubs, etc : You will need copies of W2 Forms for all the years, last three pay stubs or salary statements, Last three bank statements, Copy of your passport, I-94, H1B visa approval ( I797). This is extra piece of documentation to be given to your parents to avoid any issues. This is like an optional, I strongly suggest that you carry these documents.
F1 Student Status Documents: If you are a student on F1 visa and not working, you may not have pay stubs, so do not worry about it. Send whatever you have regarding your current status like I20, etc.
(Optional ) Affidavit of Support I-134 Form: This is an optional form, which is typically filed with family-based green card applications by sponsors. This is to establish that the applicant will not become public charges while in the United States. If you submit this form, you are legally signing that you take all the liability and they will not become a public charge. You may fill, sign and send the affidavit of support to your parents. It has some basic info. Nothing fancy and tricky out there. All you are telling in this document is that you are going to support their entire trip. You can Download the I-134 Form, Affidavit of Support from USCIS website
Sending Documents to Home Country: Ideally, you want to print out everything and sign all the documents where you filled forms I-134 (optional), invitation letter and cover letter. Make copies of all the documents as listed above. Send originals of Employment letter and Bank letter. You can use DHL or FedEx. It may cost you up to $60 USD.

Below is the checklist of B2 visitor visa stamping documents for parents.

Parents US Visitor Visa(B2) Documents Checklist

Below are the documents that Parents need to carry from their side

DS-160 Form Submission Confirmation letter
US Visa Appointment Confirmation Letter

Below are the documents parents need to carry related to their sponsor(son or daughter) in the US or if they would be staying with them.

Copy of work visa approval notice from USCIS ( H1B/ L1 Approval Notice Form I-797 ).
Copy of Passport, US Visa stamped on passport.
Copy of I-94. (Check How to get I-94 Online )
Current Employment verification letter
Copy of Bank statements from the last six months.
Bank Account verification/ balance letter.
Copies of last three salary statements/ pay slips.
Copies of previous years Tax Returns –W2 forms ( if applicable).
DS forms (if you have filled it and signed the same)
Copy of Green Card ( if you are not working on visa )
Form I-134 ( Optional )

US Visitor Visa(B2) Documents Checklist for in-laws

If you are sponsoring for your in-laws like mother-in-law or father-in-law, in addition to above checklist of documents, you need to include spouse’s details and documents as well along with the package.

Your Spouse’s Passport
Spouse’s approval notice I797
Spouse’s US Visa Copy
Any other supporting documents like marriage certificate to prove the relationship.
Spouse Birth Certificate

Thanks to Rajesh for suggesting the above after his bad experience of missing the documents of in-laws.

Additional Supporting documents by Parents for Visa Interview

Fundamentally, your parents have to prove that they have enough ties in their home country, so that they would return after their trip. Some of the ways that can be done is by good supporting documentation. The below list of documents are intended to prove that they will return to home country:

Notarized documents of land/ sites, buildings ( any kind of property).
Bank Statements with enough balance
Pension / employment benefits letters, if applicable.
Fixed deposits, any financial related documents.
If there are Tax returns, then carry them as well
Any other documents that shows your financially strong and you will come back.

If you do not have all documents or big property back home, it is OK. No big deal. Because, you are the one in the US, who is sponsoring the visitor visa for your parents. So, do not worry. Also, if your parents are older, then they are fine.

You may join our Telegram B2 Visa Community Group to ask questions or share your experiences.

Sample Document Templates for Parents US Visitor Visa

Below are some of the templates that you can use. Make sure you change the content to fit it for your situation.

Parents US Visitor Visa Invite Letter Template: You need to send an invitation letter to your parents saying that you are inviting them and also specify, if you plan to pay for their expenses when in US. We have given a sample letter, but I recommend you edit it with your own flavour and make it unique : Invitation Letter Templates for Visitor (B-2) / Parents Visa
Employment letter Sample Letter Template for US Parents Visa : You should also send an employment letter that tells that you are employed in your company with your designation and salary. It can be any standard employment letter. You may use : Employment letter Template for Parents Visa USA
Cover Letter for Visa Officer at US Consulate: It is a good idea to put in a cover letter to the visa officer listing all the documents you are sending. You may use : Cover Letter for Visa officer – Parents visa USA

These are just standard templates that you can use, no hard fast rule that it has to be in this format. We highly encourage you to use them as guideline only and create your own letters with your own flavour, so that it looks unique.

Step 3: Attend Biometrics & US Visitor Visa Interview Appointments

Once you have all the documents ready, the next step is to attend the Biometrics appointment at a US Visa Application Center(VAC) and give biometrics on that required day. After the biometrics are taken, parents must carry all the documents listed in the above checklist and attend the visa interview on the respective date and time.

Having all the documents is essential, but the most important thing is to give your parents confidence and all the details related to you and what you do in the US so that they can answer the questions. You need to coach your parents to do well in the interview.

You can expect to see questions like the below for your parents in the visa interview.:

Who lives in the US? Son or Daughter?
What does your Son or Daughter do in the US?
Did they study in the US?
Where did they study?
What does your son or daughter do for work?
Which city do they live in?
Do you plan to settle down there or come back?
What is the purpose of your visit?
When do you plan to go?
When do you plan to return to India?
What is your son or daughter’s salary?
How long have your son or daughter lived in the US?
Do you currently work, or are you retired?
Do you get a pension? Have you paid taxes?

You can check out previous US Visitor Visa experiences at below links

Collection of Latest B1/B2 Visitor Visa Stamping Experiences
Parents US Visa Stamping Experience -Telugu
English Stamping Experience US Parents Visa .

Step 4: B2 Visa Approval, Passport with Visa

If the B2 visa interview went well, your parents would be informed that their visa was approved and their passports would be collected. If the passports are collected, then they can expect the actual B2 Visitor Visa foil to be glued in their passport and delivered to their given address within a few days.

If your parents chose to pick up a passport, they could collect the same with the visa stamped in it. The approved B1/B2 or B2 Visitor Visa glued in the passport would look in the screenshot below.

If the visa were not approved, the consular officer would inform your parents and give them a piece of paper indicating the reason for Visa denial. One of the common reasons for visa denial for B2 visitor visa is 214(b). If your parents are unlucky, they can again reapply. You can read more on it at State.gov US Visa Denials reasons .

Hopefully, your parents get their US Visa in the interview. One last thing, before they go to the US, is to look at health insurance for their US Travel.

Health Insurance for Parents: After you get the US Visa and plan to arrive in the US, having visitors health insurance is important for parents to avoid any unforeseen health conditions, when in the USA. It is always a good idea to get Health Insurance from a US vendor, who can support you. We recommend Buying Parents Insurance at Visitors Coverage – Parents Insurance as they have US support and you can compare all insurance plans.

Common FAQs

Yes, US Consulates in India are doing both in-person interviews as well as dropbox appointments for parents B2 visitor visas. There are no restrictions.

All the appointments that are available on USVisaScheduling.com for 2024, 2025 and beyond are all real appointments. They are not placeholder appointments like in the past.

That’s it folks…not so much complex, all you need to do is get all the list of documents and have things rolling as per plan and schedule.

Do you have any other ideas or documents that are important ? Do share your experience and thoughts.

The IR-5 Visa, Explained

Understanding the ir5 visa for parents of u.s. citizens, in this guide.

IR-5 Visa Eligibility
Special Requirements
Related Information

Green Card (Parent)

What is the IR-5 visa?

The IR-5 visa allows the parent or parents of a U.S. citizen to lawfully live and work in the United States. Need more answers on cost, wait time, and required documents? Learn more about how Boundless can help.

Is the IR-5 right for me?

If you are a U.S citizen and have a parent or parents that are not, you might be looking to bring them over to live with you in the United States. This move could be for many reasons including greater proximity to family, better healthcare, or an increased standard of living.

The IR5 parent visa allows U.S. citizens to bring foreign-born parents to the United States as permanent residents . However, this visa will have to be granted abroad and issued at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the foreign country where the parent resides. You must also be at least age 21 to sponsor the IR-5 visa for a parent.

In this guide you’ll learn about the steps to getting an IR-5 visa as well as special requirements and common questions.

Boundless has helped more than 100,000 people reach their immigration goals. We’ll be your visa planning partner from beginning to end. Get started today!

Start planning your immigration journey today with Boundless.

Eligibility for an IR-5 visa depends on the following factors:

The U.S. citizen sponsor must be age 21 or older.
The sponsor must have the financial means to support the parent until they start working.
The sponsor must live in the United States and have a U.S. address.
The sponsor must include a copy of their birth certificate to prove the relationship between the sponsor and parent.

Establishing the parent-child relationship

All IR (“Immediate Relative”) visa categories have no yearly caps , meaning there is no wait until a green card becomes available.

The first step to becoming a U.S. permanent resident is for the sponsor to file Form I-130 (officially called the “Petition for an Alien Relative”) to establish the parent-child relationship.

The process is a little different depending on where the parent lives. If they are filing from outside the United States, their application will go through consular processing , which means it will be handled by their local embassy or consulate. If they are filing from within the United States, they will go through a process known as adjustment of status .

Establishing the parent’s eligibility for a green card

The U.S. government follows two different processes to determine a parent’s eligibility for green card, depending on where the parent currently lives:

If the parent is applying from outside the United States

After Form I-130 has been filed by the sponsoring child, it is processed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). When the petition is granted, the parent will be required to fill out Form DS-260 (immigrant visa application) and submit proof that they are the parent.

Once the DS-260 form is submitted, it is sent along with supporting evidence to the National Visa Center (NVC), which processes and reviews the visa application. The NVC may request additional evidence from the parent.

After the NVC processes the application, it will be sent to the embassy or consulate of the country where your parent resides.

If the parent is applying from within the United States

To apply using adjustment of status, the parent seeking a green card must have entered the United States on a valid visa or the Visa Waiver Program .

After the sponsoring child files Form I-130 and USCIS grants their petition, the parent will submit Form I-485 (officially called the “Application for Adjustment of Status”).

After receiving Form I-485, USCIS will mail a date, time, and location for the parent to have their fingerprints taken and eye scanned (known as a biometrics appointment ).

Attending the green card interview and awaiting approval

The parent will be required to attend an interview at a U.S.consulate or embassy if going through consular processing, and may be required to attend an interview if using adjustment of status.

They will be required to attend an interview in the city or country they live in, and will need to bring:

Their USCIS appointment letter.
An unexpired passport valid for six months beyond the intended date of entry into the United States, if they applied using consular processing
Two identical color photograph(s)
English translations of documents requiring translation
Supporting documents — original or certified copies of all civil documents the parent uploaded into the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC), if they applied using consular processing

The parent will then be asked questions about their relationship to the sponsoring child, in order to verify that their visa application is genuine. If the interview is successful, the visa will be granted, and the parent will be able to immigrate to the United States.

Once the parent is in the United States, USCIS will mail their green card to their U.S. address.

Boundless can help you avoid common pitfalls in the immigration process with unlimited support from our team of immigration experts. Learn more.

The IR5 visa has different requirements for supporting evidence depending on the parent and the circumstances of the sponsor’s birth, that is, whether it occurred when the parents were married (“in wedlock”) or not married (“out of wedlock”).

If the mother is applying from outside the United States, the sponsoring child must submit:

A copy of their birth certificate showing their name and their mother’s name.
A copy of their Certificate of Naturalization or U.S. passport if they were not born in the United States.

If the father is applying from outside the United States, the sponsoring child must submit:

A copy of their birth certificate showing their name and the names of both parents.
A copy of their parents’ civil marriage certificate.

If the father lives outside the United States and the sponsoring child was born out of wedlock and was not legitimated (legally recognized) by their father before their 18th birthday:

A copy of their birth certificate showing their name and their father’s name.
Evidence that an emotional or financial bond existed between the sponsoring child and their father before the child was married or reached age 21 (whichever came first).

If the father lives outside the United States and the sponsoring child was born out of wedlock and was legitimated by their father before their 18th birthday:

Evidence that the sponsoring child was legitimated before their 18th birthday through the marriage of their natural parents, the laws of their birth state or country, or the laws of their father’s birth state or country.

If the sponsoring child petitions to bring a stepparent to the United States, they must submit:

A copy of their birth certificate showing the names of their birth parents.
A copy of the civil marriage certificate of the birth parent to the stepparent showing that the marriage occurred before the sponsoring child’s 18th birthday.
A copy of any divorce decrees, death certificates, or annulment decrees to show that any previous marriage entered into by the sponsoring child’s natural or stepparent ended legally.

If the sponsoring child petitions to bring their adoptive parents to the United States, they must submit:

A copy of their birth certificate
A certified copy of the adoption certificate showing that the adoption took place before the sponsoring child’s 16th birthday.
A statement showing the dates and places the sponsoring child has lived together with their parents.

Common questions

After five years of having a green card, the sponsoring child’s parent will be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship .

No. The sponsoring child needs to wait until after their 21st birthday to sponsor any parent.

No. An important thing to note is that if the sponsor’s parents have minor children abroad, they will not be able to be sponsored on the same petition. Instead, they will have to be petitioned for separately by the sponsor, as a U.S. citizen, or by the parents when they become green card holders.

Immigration guides

What Are Forms DS-260 and DS-261?
A Complete Guide to Consular Processing
Preparing for the Medical Exam
How to Apply for an IR-2 Child Visa
Getting a Tourist Visa for Parents
Tourist Visa Denial: What to Do

No time for research? We provide an easy, guided application experience, with 4 anti-rejection checks and a lawyer review. Get started for free .

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Family-based immigrant visas and sponsoring a relative

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you may be able to sponsor a family member for a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card). Learn about the process and who is eligible.

Categories of people eligible for family immigrant visas

Applying for a family-based immigrant visa is the first step in the process for the person you are sponsoring to become a permanent resident. There are two categories of this type of visa:

Immediate relative visas

These visas are for close relatives of U.S. citizens, such as spouses, unmarried children under 21, or parents. An unlimited number of visas are available for this visa category. These visas include:

IR1 and CR1 for spouses
IR2 for children
IR5 for parents

Family preference visas

A limited number of family preference visas are set aside each year for:

F1 visas unmarried children who are 21 years of age or older
F3 visas for married children
F4 visas for siblings
F2A visas for spouses and unmarried children under age 21
F2B visas for unmarried children who are 21 years of age or older

Check the U.S. Department of State’s chart of immigrant visa categories to learn more about each category of immediate relative and family sponsored visas .

How to apply for permanent residency for a family member

To sponsor your family member, submit a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Form I-130 . Each person you sponsor needs a separate Form I-130. You can submit the form online or by mail.

The process for your relative to immigrate to the U.S. requires that both you, as the sponsor, and your relative, as the visa applicant, complete the necessary steps.

The process is different depending on whether your family member is already in the U.S. or abroad.

If your family member is in the U.S. - Learn about Adjustment of Status
If your family member is outside the U.S. - Learn the steps for Consular Processing

Submitting Form I-130 is the first step of the immigration visa process. Learn what other steps are involved , including:

National Visa Center (NVC) processing
Fee payments
Required supporting documents
Interview preparation

LAST UPDATED: December 8, 2023

Have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

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Family Immigration

Family Based Immigration

A foreign citizen seeking to live permanently in the United States requires an immigrant visa (IV). To be eligible to apply for an IV, a foreign citizen must be sponsored by an immediate relative who is at least 21 years of age and is either a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (that is, a green-card holder).

There are two types of family-based immigrant visas:

Immediate Relative – these visas are based on a close family relationship with a U.S. citizen, such as a spouse, child or parent. The number of immigrants in these categories is not limited each fiscal year.

Family Preference – these visas are for specific, more distant, family relationships with a U.S. citizen and some specified relationships with a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). The number of immigrants in these categories is limited each fiscal year.

Keep in mind that U.S. citizens can file an immigrant visa petition for their:

• Spouse • Son or daughter • Parent • Brother or sister

U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents can only file an immigrant visa petition for their:

• Spouse • Unmarried son or daughter

More Information

Visa News Laws and Regulations A-Z Index

Who's Involved

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): USCIS oversees immigration to the United States and approves (or denies) immigrant petitions, and more. Learn about USCIS

National Visa Center: After your petition is approved, the National Visa Center (NVC) will assist you in preparing your visa application for interview for certain visa categories at U.S. Embassies & Consulates. When and how to Contact NVC .

U.S. Embassies and Consulates: Find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate , nearest your residence abroad, where you will apply and be interviewed for your U.S. visa.

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Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.

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Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa

You can apply for this visa if you have children or grandchildren who are New Zealand citizens or residents. It allows you to travel in and out of New Zealand to visit your family.

Length of stay

Maximum total stay of 18 months in 3 years

Processing time

With this visa you can.

Visit your children or grandchildren in New Zealand.
Travel in and out of New Zealand multiple times.
Include your partner in your visa application.

Things to note

If you want to bring dependent children with you, they’ll need to apply for their own visas.
You can only apply for this visa while you’re outside of New Zealand.
If you are only planning to visit New Zealand once, the general Visitor Visa may suit you better. It has fewer requirements to meet.

Visitor Visa

Use the filters below to display relevant tips as well as detailed fees and receiving centre information

What you need to apply

Check if you are eligible to apply for this visa and what supporting documents and information you need to provide.

View All Evidence

You must provide proof of your identity

1 acceptable photo if you apply online, or 2 photos if you use a paper application form.
your passport or certificate of identity .

Acceptable photos

If you apply online, you must upload a copy of your passport when you apply. We will let you know if you need to send your passport after you have applied.

Providing your passport for online applications

If you submit a paper application, provide your original passport or a certified copy. We can usually process your application faster if you provide your original passport.

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave New Zealand.

Also provide a copy of your Identity card.

Also provide your:

Hukou (household registration book)
Chinese identity card.

If you are a citizen of China and you submit a paper application form in China, you must also complete a supplementary form.

Supplementary form for Chinese citizens (INZ 1027) PDF 338KB

If you are submitting a paper application form, you must provide a supplementary form for Hong Kong and Macao visitors, workers and students.

Supplementary form for Hong Kong and Macao visitors, workers and students (INZ 1220) PDF 240KB

You must be in good health

We may ask you to have a chest x-ray, a medical examination or both as proof of your good health.

If you are staying less than:

6 months you do not normally need a chest x-ray.
12 months you do not normally need a medical certificate.

Who needs an x-ray or medical examination

When we process your application we let you know if we need you to have a chest x-ray or medical examination.

Acceptable standard of health criteria for visa approvals

Please only provide medical certificates if requested

If you have a medical condition you should apply for your visa at least 4 months before you intend to travel to New Zealand as it will take longer to process your application.

People applying for a Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa must complete a chest X-ray and medical examination, unless you have previously provided medical certificates to us, and those certificates were issued in the last 36 months.

You must provide a chest x-ray completed in the last 3 months, even if you've provided one to us previously, if:

you have spent 6 consecutive months in China since the last x-ray certificate was issued, and
you are now coming to NZ for more than 6 months.

You must be of good character

If you have a criminal conviction or are a security risk to New Zealand we may not be able to grant you a visa.

Good character for temporary visas

You must provide police certificates if your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer across all visits. This includes any time you have spent in New Zealand in the past on other visas, even if you have been out of the country since then.

You also must provide police certificates if we ask for them.

If you are 16 years old or younger you do not need to provide police certificates.

Providing police certificates

How to get a police certificate

If you have already sent us Police Certificates with a previous visa application and they are less than 24 months old, you do not need to send them again.

Police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. They must be from any country you are a citizen of, or have spent more than 5 years in since you turned 17.

If you've previously spent 6 months or longer in NZ, but haven’t provided a police certificate from your home country before, you must provide one with this application.

Genuine intentions

You must genuinely intend to meet the conditions of your visa

When we decide if your intentions are genuine, we consider all the information:

you provide to support your application
we have about your personal circumstances, and
you provided in any previous applications.

Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in NZ

You must intend to visit your children or grandchildren in New Zealand.

Your children or grandchildren must intend to be in New Zealand when you visit.

Sponsorship

You must be sponsored by your child or grandchild, or their parent

To be eligible to sponsor you (and your partner), your sponsor must:

be a New Zealand citizen or resident
be your child or grandchild, or their parent
be 18 or over
meet our requirements for acceptable sponsors, and
not be sponsoring anyone else.

Criteria to sponsor a visa applicant

Process to become a sponsor

What sponsors must do while a visa holder is in New Zealand

Your sponsor’s immigration status

Your sponsor must be a New Zealand citizen or resident

You must provide an original or certified copy of your sponsor’s:

New Zealand passport, birth certificate or certificate of citizenship, or
New Zealand Resident Visa, or
Australian passport.

Your relationship to the sponsor

Your sponsor must be your child, grandchild, or the parent of your child or grandchild

You must provide evidence of your family relationship to your sponsor.

If your sponsor is the parent of your child or grandchild, but not your child, you must provide evidence of the sponsor’s relationship to your child or grandchild.

Evidence can include:

birth certificates
adoption papers
any other documents that confirm your relationship to the sponsor, or the sponsor’s relationship to your child or grandchild.

You can provide household registration documents if these confirm your relationship to your sponsor.

Health care

You must agree to pay your own health care costs

You must declare in your visa application that you will pay the costs of any health care or medical assistance you receive in New Zealand.

We recommend that you have full medical insurance for the length of your visit.

If you’re unable to pay for your healthcare, your sponsor will be responsible for the costs.

Bring partner

Your partner must meet the requirements for this visa

To bring your partner, you must provide evidence:

of your relationship with your partner, like a marriage certificate
that your partner meets the identity, character and health requirements for this visa.

Partnership

You can’t include dependent children in your visa application – they’ll need to apply for their own visas.

Process and costs

The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.

We cannot display any process or costs information until you have provided your country details. Enter your country details in the panel above to view information relevant to your situation.

How to submit

Payment methods and receiving centre details if applicable.

We cannot display any receiving centre or payment method information until you have provided your country details. Enter your country details in the panel above to view information relevant to your situation.

These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.

Entry permission

You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You can do this by completing a digital New Zealand traveller declaration (NZTD), or an NZTD paper declaration.

New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.

Arriving in New Zealand

You can be refused entry permission if:

you don’t meet our character requirements
your circumstances have changed since you were granted a visa
you refuse to let us to take your photo, or provide us with your fingerprints or an iris scan, if we ask you for them.

You can travel in and out of New Zealand, multiple times for up to 3 years.

You can stay for up to 6 months at a time, up to a maximum total stay of 18 months within 3 years.

Each visit may only last 6 months.

You must be sponsored by your child or grandchild, or their New Zealand parent.

Acceptable sponsors

You cannot work in New Zealand on this visa.

Visa expiry

You can visit New Zealand multiple times until your visa expires, as long as:

each time you visit you stay for 6 months or less
your total stay in New Zealand is 18 months or less.

Visa expiry dates are printed on a visa label or included in a visa letter.

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Guide 5256 - Applying for a visitor visa (temporary resident visa)

Use this guide to apply for: visitor visa, transit visa, super visa

Before you apply, step 1. gather documents, step 2. complete the application, step 3. pay the fees, step 4. submit the application, what happens next, income table, temporary resident visa application photograph specifications.

This is not a legal document. The explanations and definitions are not legal definitions. In case of a discrepancy between the language in this document and the relevant legislation or regulations, the legal text in the legislation and regulations prevails.

For legal information, consult the following documents:

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

Application package

This application package has:

an instruction guide, and
the forms you need to fill out.

The instruction guide :

has information you must know before you submit your application, and
explains how to fill out the forms and gather your supporting documents.

Read the instruction guide completely and then fill out each of the applicable forms.

The forms are designed with questions that will help the processing of your application.

Symbols used in this guide

This guide uses these symbols to draw your attention to important information:

Important information that you need to know to avoid delays or other problems.

Where to get more information.

Note: Tips that will help you with this application.

Who may use this application guide?

Use this application guide if you wish to apply for a temporary resident visa from outside Canada.

Note: The processing time of an application may vary from one visa office to another. Find out more about application processing times .

Who are Visitors?

Visitors are persons who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, and are legally authorized to enter Canada to:

visit Canada on holiday (vacation),
visit family,
conduct business, etc.

Visitors are restricted in length of stay and subject to various conditions.

Do I need a Temporary Resident Visa?

Persons who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada may require a visa to enter Canada. The requirement for a visa also applies to temporary residents who are transiting in Canada. Find out if you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a visitor visa .

If you do not require a visa to enter Canada, you may require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Find out if you need an eTA .

What is a Temporary Resident Visa?

A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), also referred to as a visitor visa, is an official document issued by a Canadian visa office that is placed in your passport to show that you have met the requirements for admission to Canada as a temporary resident (either as a visitor, a student, or a worker).

What are the requirements you must meet for a TRV?

You must show the officer that you meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and that you will be in Canada for a temporary stay.

You must also:

satisfy an officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay,
show that you have enough money to maintain yourself and your family members in Canada and to return home,
not intend to work or study in Canada unless authorized to do so,
be law abiding and have no record of criminal activity,
not be a risk to the security of Canada,
provide any additional document requested by the officer to establish your admissibility, and
be in good health (complete a medical examination if required).

What if I was previously granted permanent resident status?

If you have ever been granted permanent residence or landed immigrant status in Canada, you may still be a permanent resident. We cannot issue you a TRV if you are a permanent resident.

You may instead want to apply for Travel Document (Permanent Resident Abroad) . If you meet the requirements for a travel document, you can return to Canada as a permanent resident.

If you no longer want to be a permanent resident, or if you know you do not meet the requirements to keep your permanent resident status, you can voluntarily give up (renounce) your permanent resident status in order to apply for a TRV.

Voluntary Renunciation of PR status applications must be sent in a separate envelope by mail to the visa office .

We recommend that you apply for Voluntary Renunciation of your PR status first, and apply for your TRV once you receive the approval of your Voluntary Renunciation.

Entry to Canada

Family member definitions.

Your family members include your spouse or common-law partner, your dependent children and any children that are their dependent children.

Refers to either of the two persons (any gender) in a marriage legally recognized in the country in which it took place, as well as in Canada.

Proxy, telephone, fax, internet and similar forms of marriage where one or both parties were not physically present are not considered as valid spousal relationships under the Regulations nor are polygamous marriages. For more information, consult our policy on the legality of a marriage .

Refers to a person who is living in a conjugal relationship with another person (any gender), and has done so continuously for a period of at least one year. A conjugal relationship exists when there is a significant degree of commitment between two people.

This can be shown with evidence that the couple share the same home, support each other financially and emotionally, have children together, or present themselves in public as a couple.

Common-law partners who have been in a conjugal relationship for at least one year, but are unable to live together or appear in public together because of legal restrictions in their home country or who have been separated for reasons beyond their control (for example, civil war or armed conflict) may still qualify and should be included on the application.

We assess your child’s eligibility as a dependant based on how old they were at a specific point in time, called the "lock-in date" . This is usually the date we received your application. To see if your child qualifies as a dependant, we consider the age of your child on the lock-in date , even though your child’s age may change during processing.

Your child or the child of your spouse or common-law partner can be considered a dependent child if that child meets the requirements below on the lock-in date :

They’re under 22 years old , and
They don’t have a spouse or common-law partner

Children 22 years old or older qualify as dependants if they meet both of these requirements:

They have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22, and
They are unable to financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition

With the exception of age, dependants must continue to meet these requirements until we finish processing your application.

Not sure if your child is a dependant? Check if your child qualifies by answering a few questions .

If your child’s age was locked in on or before October 23, 2017, a previous definition of dependent children may apply.

Refers to children of dependent children of the applicant and those of the spouse or common-law partner, if applicable.

Do I have to apply separately for my family members?

Family members must complete their own application forms. However, you may submit your applications together online or at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) and use one payment receipt for the total amount.

Your spouse or common-law partner and children must meet all of the requirements for temporary residence in Canada.

Are there medical requirements?

If you plan to work, visit or study in canada for six months or less:.

You usually do not need a medical exam.

If you plan to work, visit or study in Canada for more than six months:

You will need a medical exam if you:

in any of these countries or territories
in the one year immediately before the date you want to enter Canada. ( This applies even if you are a citizen of a country that does not need a visa to enter Canada. )

Regardless of the length of time you are in Canada, you will need a medical exam if you wish to work in one of the following fields:

a designated occupation, such as the field of health services or with children. Examples of designated occupations include hospital staff, clinical laboratory workers, patient attendants in nursing and geriatric homes, and medical and dental students admitted to attend Canadian universities;
to work in agricultural occupations, you will need a medical exam if you have lived in certain countries or territories .

You and your family members may need a medical exam to come to Canada. Find out more by checking the Medical examination requirements for temporary residents .

You may either:

have an upfront medical exam by contacting a Panel Physician; or
wait until your application is reviewed and medical instructions are given to you by the visa office.

Get the instructions to complete the medical exam.

When medical results are submitted up front, routine cases benefit from faster processing since we do not have to ask for them at a later date. This is done at your own cost and does not influence the final decision on your application. If you have an upfront medical exam, you must submit proof that you completed the medical exam with your application. Failure to do so may result in processing delays.

Biometric (fingerprints and photo) requirements

You may need to appear in person to have your fingerprints and photograph (biometric information) taken at a biometric collection service point. If your family members are also applying, they may need to appear in person to have their biometric information taken as well.

If you’re in Canada as a visitor and you apply for an initial study or work permit, you need to give your biometrics. As of December 3, 2019, you need to give biometrics when you apply from within Canada . You can go to a designated Service Canada location .

Find out if you need to give biometrics .

Note: If you need to give biometric fingerprints and photo, you do not need to include paper photos with your application.

How often do you give your biometrics

You only need to give your biometrics once every 10 years . You don’t need to give your biometrics again until the 10-year period expires.

If you gave biometrics in the past as part of an application for a visitor visa, work or study permit and they are still valid , you don’t need to give them again for this application.

Find out if your biometrics are still valid and when they expire by using the Check Biometric Status Tool .

When to give your biometrics

If you submit your application online or by mail..

You can give your biometrics after you:

pay for and submit your application and biometric fees, and
get a biometric instruction letter (BIL) that will direct you to a list of official locations you may choose from.

You must provide your biometric data promptly after receiving the instruction letter inviting you to do so.

If you submit your application in person at a visa application centre (VAC)

You may be able to book an appointment in advance to give your biometrics at the same time that you submit your application at a VAC. If you can’t give your biometrics when you submit your application you will have to make an appointment at the VAC to give them at a later date.

Where to give your biometrics

You need to book an appointment to give your biometrics at one of these official biometric collection service points .

We’ll start processing your application after we get your biometrics.

Can I work or study during my stay in Canada?

Visitors are not allowed to work or study in Canada unless they are authorized to do so under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations . In many cases, a work or study permit will be required.

A temporary resident may also take a program of study up to six months duration without having to obtain a study permit.

Information about the parent and grandparent super visa

About the super visa.

The multiple-entry super visa allows parents and grandparents to

enter Canada multiple times
stay in Canada for a period of 5 years on each entry

Who may apply for a super visa?

To apply for a super visa, you must either be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.

You cannot include your dependent children in this application. If your spouse or common-law partner want to come with you, they also need to submit an application.

How do I apply for a super visa?

To apply for a super visa, you need to submit an application to a visa office and provide

You must also include your host child or host grandchild’s family composition (dependents, including spouse, children or other relatives that are financially dependent on your host child or host grandchild).
If your child or grandchild does not have a paper copy of their notice of assessment, they can view (and print) their tax returns as well as other personal tax information using the Canada Revenue Agency’s My Account online service. To register or login, visit My Account .
the most recent copy of the child or grandchild’s T4 or T1
an original letter from child’s or grandchild’s employer stating their job title, job description and salary
a letter from an accountant confirming annual income, if self-employed
proof of other sources of income (for example, pension statement, investments)
evidence of the parent or grandparent relationship to the Canadian citizen or permanent resident you wish to visit (such as a birth certificate, baptismal certificate or other official documents naming you as parent or grandparent)
More information on approved insurance companies outside of Canada will be available in the coming months.
be paid in full (quotes aren’t accepted)
covers health care, hospitalization and repatriation
provide a minimum coverage of $100,000, and
be valid for each entry to Canada and be available for review by a border services officer, upon request

After you apply, you will also need to undergo a medical examination and provide proof of the results.

You will be required to appear in person to have your biometric fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a biometric collection service point .

Visa-exempt applicants

You are not required to pay the application processing fee or provide your biometrics.

If your application is approved, you will be directed to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA). You will be provided with a letter that you will show to a border services officer upon arrival to Canada.

What must my child or grandchild do to meet the low income cut-off minimum?

You child or grandchild’s income must meet or exceed the minimum necessary cut-off, as identified annually in the income table .

In the letter of invitation , they must calculate their family size. This factor determines the amount of income required to provide care and support for you and your spouse, if applicable.

How to calculate family size:

their spouse or common-law partner
their dependent children
any person they may have sponsored previously and for whom the sponsorship agreement and undertaking are still in effect
your spouse or common-law partner, if you have one
They add together the number of persons covered by steps 1 and 2. The total represents their family size.
They look at the LICO in the income table in this guide to determine if they meet the minimum required for their family size.
To demonstrate that they meet the minimum income required, your child or grandchild may include one of the documents listed in the document checklist (IMM 5484).

If your child or grandchild does not meet the LICO minimum, their spouse or common-law partner can assist by also providing a letter of invitation with one of the documents listed in the document checklist (IMM 5484).

What documents are required?

If you are outside of Canada, use the Document Checklist [IMM 5484] ( PDF , 1.12 MB ) to assist you in gathering the required documents to submit your application.

Some visa offices may require additional supporting documents specific to your country. For further information, check the Application for a Visitor Visa page.

If you are inside Canada, you must use the Document checklist – Applicants in Canada [IMM 5721] ( PDF , 0.91 MB ) to gather the documents required to submit your application to the Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) .

Minors travelling alone

Minors (under 18 years of age) travelling alone or with a person other than their parents or legal guardians should have a letter of authorization, preferably in English or French, signed by both parents or legal guardians. It should also include the name of the adult who will be responsible for the children in Canada.

Minors travelling with only one parent or legal guardian should have a letter of authorization, preferably in English or French, from the non accompanying parent or guardian.

Translation of documents

You must include the following along with any document that is not in English or French:

the English or French translation; and
an affidavit from the person who completed the translation (if they are not a certified translator ).

Translations may be done by:

a person who is fluent in both languages (English or French, and the unofficial language); or
a Canadian certified translator (a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial organization of translators and interpreters in Canada).

If the translation isn’t done by a Canadian certified translator, the person who completed the translation must provide an affidavit swearing to their language proficiency and the accuracy of the translation.

The affidavit must be sworn in the presence of:

a notary public ;
a commissioner of oaths ; or
a commissioner of taking affidavits .

Authority to certify varies by province and territory . Consult your local provincial or territorial authorities.

Outside of Canada:

a notary public

Authority to administer oaths varies by country . Consult your local authorities.

Note: An affidavit is a document on which the translator has sworn, in the presence of a person authorized to administer oaths in the country where the translator is living, that the contents of their translation are a true translation and representation of the contents of the original document. Translators who are certified in Canada don’t need to supply an affidavit.

Certified true copies

To have a photocopy of a document certified, an authorized person must compare the original document to the photocopy and must print all of the following on the photocopy:

“I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”;
the name of the original document;
the date of the certification;
the name of the authorized person;
their official position or title; and
their signature.

Who can certify copies?

Only authorized people can certify copies.

Important information: Certifying of copies must not be done by the applicants themselves nor by an applicant’s parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or first cousin.

People authorized to certify copies include the following:

Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Check with your local provincial or territorial authorities to learn who has the authority to certify.

Outside Canada:

Authority to certify international documents varies by country. Check with your local authorities to learn who has the authority to certify in your country.

Filling out the application

The following are the forms that must be filled out and submitted:

Application for Temporary Resident Visa [IMM 5257] ( PDF , 0.56 M B )

Family Information (IMM 5707 or IMM 5645)

Document Checklist [IMM 5484] ( PDF , 1.12 M B )
Document Checklist – Applicants in Canada [IMM 5721] ( PDF , 0.91 M B ) , if applicable
Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union [IMM 5409] ( PDF , 0.78 MB) , if applicable
Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] ( PDF , 1.53 M B ) , if applicable
Authority to release personal information to a designated individual [IMM 5475] ( PDF , 1.52 M B ) , if applicable

Note: You may be required to complete additional supporting documents upon request of a visa officer.

Be complete and accurate

Complete all sections. If a section does not apply to you, write “Not Applicable” or “NA”, except for your name (last name and given name[s]). Refer to questions 1 and 2 under “ Personal Details ” section for further instructions. The application must be signed and dated.

If your application is incomplete it may be rejected and this will delay the processing of your application.

If you need more space for any section, print out an additional page containing the appropriate section, complete it and submit it along with your application .

Application for Temporary Resident Visa (IMM 5257)

Who must fill out this application form.

This form must be completed by each person applying for a Temporary Resident Visa to visit Canada.

Fill out the form

You must answer all the questions on this form unless instructed otherwise.

Download and fill out the form on a computer.

You also have the option to save your form and fill it out later.

Note: Filling out the form on a computer is easier and reduces mistakes that can slow down the application process.

Read and follow the questions below to help you fill out the form.

Visitor visa : official document issued by a visa office that is placed in the passport which allows you to seek entry to Canada.

Note: To obtain a transit visa you must provide specific evidence of your travel itinerary from your transportation company or travel agent.

Personal Details

Type your family name (surname) exactly as shown on your passport or travel document (even if the name is misspelled). Do not use initials.

Note: If you do not have a family name on your passport or travel document, enter all your given names here and leave the given name field blank.

Type all of your given names (first, second, or more) exactly as shown on your passport or travel document (even if the name is misspelled). Do not use initials.

Note: If you do not have a given name on your passport or travel document, leave this field blank. Do not enter “*”, “Not applicable” or “NA”.

Nick names or Alias

Check the box to tell us if you have ever used any other name. This could include your birth name, maiden name, married name, nick name, etc.

If you checked “ Yes ”, type any other family name that you have ever used.

If you checked “ Yes ”, type any other given name (first, second, or more) that you have ever used.

Choose your gender ( F -Female, M -Male, U -Unknown or X -Another gender).

Note: If you choose a gender identifier that is different than what you currently have or have had on your Canadian temporary resident document (visa, electronic travel authorization, work permit, study permit or visitor record), you need to complete the Request for a Change of Sex or Gender Identifier (IRM 0002) form and send it with your application. You also need to complete this form and send it with your application if you’ve never had a Canadian temporary resident document but you intend to apply for one and you identify with a gender that is different than what appears on your foreign travel document or passport. No supporting documents are required.

Enter your date of birth. If your entire date of birth is unknown, please use ‘ * ’ (star sign or asterisk) to fill in the spaces for the year, month or day, where applicable.

Note, if your city, town, country or territory of birth is indicated in your passport or your travel document, please record it as it appears in the document.

Choose your country or territory of citizenship. To be a citizen of a country or territory means that you were either born in that country or territory (in most cases) or have been granted citizenship by that country or territory. If you are a citizen of more than one country or territory, choose the country or territory that issued the passport you will be using for this trip.

Choose the correct information:

The name of the country or territory you live in, if you have been lawfully admitted to that country or territory.
Permanent resident
Protected Person
Refugee Claimant
Other: You must fill out this section if you chose “ Other ” as a status.
The dates (From – To) you have been living in your country or territory of residence.

Check the box to tell us if during the past five years, you have lived in any other country or territory other than your country of citizenship or your current country or territory of residence (indicated above) for more than six months?

If you checked “ Yes ”, choose the correct information:

The name of the country or territory you lived in;
Other: You must fill out this section if you chose “ Other ” as a status;
The dates (From – To) you were living in that country or territory.

Check the box to tell us if you are applying from the country or territory you live in.

If you checked “ No ”, choose the correct information:

The name of the country or territory where you are applying from;
The dates (From – To) that you have been living in that country or territory.

If you are not a citizen of the country or territory where you are applying, you must send proof of your legal status in the country or territory you live in when you submit your application.

Choose your current marital status from the list below: Annulled Marriage This is a marriage that is legally declared invalid. An annulment can also be a declaration by the Catholic Church that the marital union did not have a binding force. Common - Law This means that you have lived continuously with your partner in a marital-type relationship for a minimum of one year. Divorced This means that you are officially separated and have legally ended your marriage. Married This means that you and your spouse have had a ceremony that legally binds you to each other. Your marriage must be legally recognized in the country where it was performed and in Canada. Separated This means that you are married, but are no longer living with your spouse. Single This means that you have never been married and are not in a common-law relationship. Widowed This means that your spouse has died and that you have not re-married or entered into a common-law relationship.
Enter the date (year, month and day) you were married or you entered into your current common-law relationship.
Type the family names and given names of your current spouse or common-law partner.

If you are in a common-law union, you must also fill out the Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union [IMM 5409] (PDF, 863 KB) form and include it with your application. If you are married, you must send a photocopy of your marriage licence or certificate with your application.

Check the box to tell us if you have ever been married or in a common-law relationship. If you checked “ Yes ”, enter the following information:

All family names,
All given names,
Date of birth,
Common-law, or
Dates (From – To) for which you were in the relationship with your former spouse or common-law partner.
Choose your native language (mother tongue).
Check “Yes” or “No” to tell us if you have taken a test from a designated testing agency to test your abilities in English or French.

Type your valid passport or travel document number exactly as shown on the document. Make sure there is no space between each number or letter.

From the list, select the name of the country or territory that issued your passport or travel document.

Enter the date your passport or travel document was issued.

Enter the date your passport or travel document will expire.

For this trip – Check “Yes” or “No” to tell us if you are using a passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that shows your personal identification number.

For this trip – Check “Yes” or “No” to tell us if you are using a National Israeli passport.

Note: There must be at least one blank page other than the last page available on each passport. If applying from outside Canada, refer to the responsible visa office for your region. If applying from inside Canada, a physical copy of your passport is not required at this time, and may be requested at a late date.

Venezuelan passport holders

You may need to complete extra steps when you fill out your application .

If the printed expiry date on your Venezuelan passport has passed

If the printed expiry date has passed and you’re applying for a visitor visa, study permit, work permit or to extend your stay as a temporary resident in Canada, follow these steps:

Add 5 years to the printed expiry date shown on your passport and enter it in the expiry date field of the application form.
Include a letter of explanation with your application stating: “I am a Venezuelan national with a Venezuelan passport, which has been extended for 5 years”.

Warning: If your passport is still expired after adding 5 years to the printed expiry date, your passport is considered expired. You’re not eligible to submit an application with that passport.

National Identity Document

Check “Yes” or “No” to tell us if you have a national identity document.

Enter your national identity document number exactly as shown on the document.

From the list, select the name of the country or territory that issued your national identity document.

Enter the date your national identity document was issued.

Enter the date your national identity document will expire.

Check “Yes” or “No” to tell us if you are a lawful Permanent Resident of the United States with a valid alien registration card (green card).

Enter your valid alien registration card (green card) document number exactly as shown on the document.

Enter when your alien registration card (green card) document will expire.

Contact Information

Type your current mailing address (where information should be mailed). Make sure you include the following information:

Post Office Box (P.O. Box) number, if you have one. If you do not have a post office box number, you must type the street number,
Apartment (Apt.) or Unit,
Street number (No.). If you did not type in a P.O. Box number, you must type the street number,
Street name. Do not abbreviate words (Street, Avenue, Boulevard, Drive, etc.) except for directions (NW, SE, W, etc.),
City or Town,
From the list, choose the country or territory of your current mailing address,
Province or State,
Postal code or zip code,
District, if it applies to you.

All correspondence will go to this address unless you give us your e-mail address.

If you wish to have a representative who can conduct business on your behalf, you must give us their email and mailing addresses in this section and fill out the Use of a Representative ( IMM 5476 ) form.

Check the box to tell us if the address you live at is the same as your mailing address. If “ No ”, type the following information:

Apartment (Apt.) or Unit, if it applies to you,
Street Number (No.),
Street Name. Do not abbreviate words (Street, Avenue, Boulevard, Drive etc.) except for directions (NW, SE, W, etc.),
Country or territory,
Postal Code or zip code,

Check the correct box to tell us if the telephone number is from Canada, the United States (US) or Other (any other country).

Choose the type of telephone:

Residence (home)
Cellular (cell or mobile)
Business (work)

Type your telephone number including the country code, area or regional codes, etc.

If you have an extension number, write it after your phone number under “Ext.”

Check the correct box to tell us if your other telephone number is from Canada, the United States or Other (any other country).

Check the correct box to tell us if the facsimile (fax) number is from Canada, the United States or Other (any other country).

If you have one, type your facsimile (fax) number, including country code, area or regional codes, etc.

If you have one, type your e-mail address using a format similar to the following: [email protected]

Note: Make sure you check your email regularly. Any emails sent to you by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will end in:

“@cic.gc.ca”,
“@canada.ca”, or
“@international.gc.ca”.

Please add these to your “safe senders” list in your email program and check the junk mail folder in case important emails get filtered. If we find that your email address does not work or no longer exists, we will communicate with you by mail. By giving us your e-mail address, you are hereby authorizing us to send your correspondence, including file and personal information electronically to this address.

Details of Visit to Canada

Short-term studies (course or program of six months or less)
Returning student
Returning worker
Super visa — Parents and grandparents
Other (medical visit, transit, etc.)
Family Visit

Note: If you selected “ other ” in question 1a), provide details in 1b)

Provide details.

Enter the dates (From – To) that you plan to stay in Canada.

Type the amount of funds (money) in Canadian dollars that you have available to you during your stay in Canada.

Type the following information about the person(s) or institution(s), including schools you intend to visit during your stay in Canada:

Name (includes the name of a person or a name of an institution)
Relationship you have with this person or institution (friend, family, co-worker, etc.)
Their address in Canada (street number, street name, city or town and postal code).

Check the box to tell us if you have any post-secondary education (including university, college or apprenticeship training).

Examples of post-secondary education:

Training completed in a specific trade, such as carpentry or auto mechanics.

Training in a profession that requires formal education but not at the university level (for example, dental technician or engineering technician).

Academic degree awarded by a college or university to those who finished an undergraduate curriculum; also called a baccalaureate. Examples include a Bachelor of Arts, Science or Education.

Academic degree awarded by a graduate school of a college or university. You must have completed a Bachelor’s degree before a Master’s degree can be earned.

Highest university degree usually based on at least three years of graduate studies and a thesis. Normally, you must have finished a Master’s degree before a PhD can be earned.

If you checked “ Yes ”, give us full details of your highest level of post-secondary education:

Enter the dates (year and month) you attended the institution
Field(s) of study (mechanics, social sciences, medicine, etc. )
School or Facility name
City or Town
Country or territory (choose from the list) and
Province or State.

Employment (Work or job)

Enter the following information about your employment for the past 10 years. If you are retired, give information about the 10 years before your retirement.

Current activity or job

Give details about your current activity or job :

dates (year and month) you have been working at your current job,
activity or job, or a brief description of your position. If you do not work, describe what you are currently doing (retired, not working, going to school, etc. ),
name of the company, employer or facility where you work,
Province or State, if it applies to you.

Previous activity or job

Give details of your previous activity or job for the past 10 years. If you are retired, include the details about the 10 years before your retirement.

If you need more space, print out another page of the form, fill in this section and submit it with your application.

Background Information

All questions in this section must be answered or the application will be considered incomplete and will be returned.

Check the box to indicate if:

you or any of your family members have ever had tuberculosis of the lungs or been in close contact with a person with tuberculosis within the past two years.
you have any physical or mental disorder that would require social and/or health services other than medication during your stay in Canada.
If you checked “ Yes ” to any of the above questions, provide details and the name of the family member, if applicable.

Note: Refer to the Family Members definition in this guide.

Check the box to indicate if you have ever:

remained beyond the validity of your status, attended school without authorization or worked without authorization in Canada.
been refused a visa or permit, denied entry or ordered to leave Canada or any other country or territory.
Applied previously to enter or remain in Canada.
If you checked “ Yes ” to one of the above questions, provide details.
been arrested for, or
been charged with or convicted of any criminal offence in any country or territory.
Check the box to indicate if you have ever served in any military, militia, civil defence unit, served in a security organization or police force (including non-obligatory national service, reserve or voluntary units).
If you answered “ Yes ” to question 4a), please provide your dates of service and the countries or territories where you served.

Check “ Yes ” or “ No ” to indicate if you have ever been a member or associated with any political party, or other group or organization which has engaged in or advocated violence as means to achieving a political or religious objective, or which has been associated with criminal activity at any time.

Check “ Yes ” or “ No ” to indicate if you have ever witnessed or participated in the ill treatment of prisoners or civilians, looting or desecration of religious buildings.

To complete your form:

Once the application is completed, click on the “Validate” button located at the top or bottom of the form. This will generate a barcode page (page 5 of 5) – see image below. If this application form is completed on a computer and printed, you must place the barcode page on the top of your application (or if applying as a group, each individual application package).

Note: This barcode page will not appear if you fill out your application by hand.

If you are 18 years of age or older , you must sign and date in the boxes provided at the bottom of the page.

If you are less than 18 years of age, your form must be signed by one of your parents or a legal guardian.

Note: By signing, you certify that you fully understand the questions asked, and that the information you have provided is complete, accurate, and factual. If you do not sign and date the application form, it will be returned to you.

Who needs to complete this form?

This form must be completed by each person, 18 years of age or older, applying for a Temporary Resident Visa, a study or work permit outside Canada.

Which form needs to be completed?

You must complete the Family Information form (IMM 5707 or IMM 5645) listed in the application package for your country.

Family Information (IMM 5707)

Write the personal details about:

Check “ Yes ” if you were physically present at the marriage ceremony
Check “ No ” if you were not physically present at the marriage ceremony
Check “ Yes ” if your spouse was physically present at the marriage ceremony;
Check “ No ” if your spouse was not physically present at the marriage ceremony.
your parent 1 (mother or father); and
your parent 2 (mother or father).

Check “ Yes ” or “ No ” to indicate if the person will accompany you to Canada.

Write: Family name and given name(s) (as shown on passport or travel document), name in native language (if applicable), date of birth, country or territory of birth (as shown on passport or travel document), present address (e.g. street name and number, city, country, postal code), marital status, and present occupation (job).

If a person is deceased, write “deceased” under “Present address”, and write the city/town, country and the date they died.

If not currently employed, please indicate if that person is retired, studying, etc.

You must answer all questions. If a section does not apply to you, write “Not applicable” or “N/A”.

Note: If you do not have a spouse, a common-law partner or conjugal partner, read “ Note 1 ” at the end of Section A, then sign and date the declaration.

Section B - Children

Write the personal details about your children. It is very important that you list all of your children even if they are already permanent residents or citizens of Canada, regardless of age or place of residence. This includes:

married children;
adopted children;
children of your spouse (step-children) or common-law partner;
any of your children who have been adopted by others; and
any of your children who are in the custody of an ex-spouse, former common-law partner or other guardian.

Write: relationship (e.g. son, adopted daughter), family name and given name (as shown on passport or travel document), name in native language (if applicable), date of birth, country or territory of birth (as shown on passport or travel document), present address (e.g. street name and number, city, country, postal code), marital status, and present occupation (job).

If a person is deceased, indicate this under “Present address”, and write the city/town, country and the date they died.

If you require more space, please either add lines to the form by pressing the + button to the right or attach a separate sheet with the additional information.

Note: If you do not have any children, check the box “ I do not have any children ” and read “ Note 2 ” at the end of Section B, then sign and date the declaration.

Section C - Declaration

Sign and date in the sections provided.

Note: By signing, you certify that you fully understand the questions asked, and that the information you have given is complete, accurate and factual. If you do not sign or date the form, your application will be returned to you.

Important information: Once you have filled out the form, click on the “ Validate ” button located at the top of the form. Missing information will be identified by a pop up when you press the “Validate” button. You should fill out your forms on a computer and validate them electronically to reduce mistakes and help you submit forms that are complete.

Note: This form will not produce a barcode when it is validated.

For more information about the “validate” button, visit the Help Centre .

Family Information (IMM 5645)

If you are married and you were physically present at the marriage, choose “married – physically present” in the marital status box.
If you are married and you were not physically present at the marriage, choose “married – not physically present” in the marital status box.
If you are married and your spouse was physically present at the marriage, choose “married – physically present” in the marital status box.
If you are married and your spouse was not physically present at the marriage, choose “married – not physically present” in the marital status box.
your mother,
your father.

Include: full name, relationship, date of birth, marital status (married, single, widowed, common-law, divorced, separated, annulled marriage), present address and occupation (job), and if they will come with you to Canada by checking “ Yes ” or “ No ”.

If a person is deceased, write “deceased” under “Present address”, and write the city and the date they died.

Note: If you do not have a spouse or a common-law partner, read “ Note 1 ”, then sign and date the declaration at the end of Section A.

Write the personal details about your children. It is very important that you list all of your children even if they are already permanent residents or citizens of Canada. This includes:

Write full name, relationship, date of birth, marital status (married, single, widowed, common-law, divorced, legally separated, annulled marriage), present address and job, and if they will come with you to Canada by checking “ Yes ” or “ No ”.

If a person is deceased, indicate this under “Present address”, and write the city and the date they died.

Note: If you do not have children, read “ Note 2 ”, then sign and date the declaration at the end of Section B.

Section C – Brothers and Sisters

Write the personal details about your:

brother(s),
half-brother(s) and half-sister(s), and
step-brother(s) and step-sister(s).

If a person is deceased, write this under “Present address”, and write the city and the date they died.

Section D – Certification

Sign and date the boxes at the bottom of the page.

Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)

Who may use this form.

Fill out this form only if you:

are appointing a representative;
need to update contact information for your previously appointed representative; or
are cancelling a representative’s appointment.

If you have dependent children aged 18 years or older, they must fill out their own copy of this form if a representative is also conducting business on their behalf.

Who is a representative?

A representative is someone who:

you have appointed by completing the IMM 5476 form;
gives advice, consultation, or guidance to you at any stage of the application process; and
has your consent to conduct business on your behalf with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

You are not obliged to hire a representative. We treat everyone equally, whether they use the service of a representative or not.

For more information, see: Use of a Representative .

Notify IRCC about any changes

You must use this Web form to tell us if any information changes regarding the person you authorized to represent you on your application.

an application processing fee;
a biometric fee.

Find out if you need to give biometrics .

Use the table below to calculate the total amount of fees to be paid (all fees are in Canadian dollars). The processing fees must be included with your application. If you or your family members are required to provide biometric information, the biometric fee should be paid at the same time and the same way as the processing fee in order to avoid delays in processing your application.

Note: You may be required to pay fees in local currency.

Single or multiple entry temporary resident visa

The same fee applies to both types of visas. We’ll decide which visa to give you based on your application.

Find out more about the difference between single and multiple entry visas .

Fees are subject to change at any time.

Note: Make sure that you are eligible before you pay, and gather all the documents requested before you submit the application.

The fees will not be refunded, regardless of the final decision. For example, being found ineligible for a temporary resident visa is part of the processing; the fees will not be refunded. If you apply again, you will have to pay another processing fee and if applicable, another biometric fee.

Visa-exempt visitors applying for a super visa:

If you are a citizen of a country where you do not require a visa to visit Canada, you do not have to pay any processing fees. However you will have to satisfy all other requirements to obtain a super visa.

Find out if you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a visitor visa .

How to pay the fees for your application

To pay your fees for your application you’ll need:

a valid e-mail address;
access to a printer (you’ll need to print the receipt), and
a credit card, Debit MasterCard ® or Visa ® Debit card.

Visit the link below and follow these instructions to pay:

Go to Online Payment .
At the end , click on the button to print the IRCC official receipt with barcode. Print two copies.
Keep the second copy of the receipt for your records.

Incorrect fee payment

Incorrect fee payments may delay processing of your application.

Payment issue – No fee included

We will return your application.

Note: We will start processing your application after you return your application with the fees.

Payment issue – Not enough fees included

We will return your application and tell you of how much to pay.

Note: We will start processing your application once you return your application with the correct fees.

Payment issue – Overpayment

start processing your application, and
send you a refund.

Note: You do not have to ask for a refund, it will be done automatically.

Payment issue –Required biometric fee not included

tell you the fee amount and how to pay it.

Note: We will continue processing of your application after you send the missing fees.

Where do I apply?

You may send your application to a Visa Application Center (VAC) that serves your area or apply online .

If I need to give my biometric fingerprints and photo, where do I go?

Outside Canada and the U.S.: At one of Canada’s Visa Application Centers (VAC) locations around the world.

In the United States: At one of many Application Support Centers across the U.S.

In Canada: Starting December 3, 2019, you can go to a designated Service Canada location .

At the port of entry: Asylum claimants, and applicants for work and study permits who are eligible to apply at the port of entry.

Consult the list of biometric collection service points .

If, for some reason, you can’t provide your biometric information (photograph and/or fingerprints) or if you need more than the 30 days, please contact us and be prepared to provide a detailed explanation.

In Canada: As of December 3, 2019, you can go to a designated Service Canada location .

Submit the document checklist

Make sure you complete the Document Checklist [IMM 5484] and include it with your application forms and supporting documents.

What should I submit with my application?

Make sure you complete the Document Checklist and include it with your application forms. Make sure you include all the supporting documents listed on the Document Checklist .

If your family members are also applying for TRVs, you can include your whole family's applications in the same envelope.

If you are a permanent resident (PR) overseas, and have decided to renounce (relinquish) your permanent resident status, you must submit your application for PR renunciation [IMM 5782] ( PDF , 1.59 M B ) in a separate envelope from your Temporary Resident application.

Temporary Resident applications may be submitted through a Visa Application Centre (VAC) or online, while the PR applications must be sent by mail separately to the visa office.

The application process

Completion check.

Once you have submitted your application, we will check to make sure that:

you have properly completed and submitted all of the required application forms;
you have paid the application processing fee; and
you have sent all requested supporting documentation.

If your application package is incomplete:

we will return it to you;
we will not create a file; and
we will not keep a record until you have submitted a complete application.

Note: To avoid processing delays, pay your biometric fees at the same time as your application processing fees, using the same method of payment.

Review for decision

Your application will undergo a detailed review by an officer. The officer will consider all the information and documentation you have provided, and will assess it and will decide if an interview is necessary. If so, you will be informed of the interview date, time and place.

If your application is refused, any original documents, including your passport if submitted with your application, will be returned to you with an explanation of why your application was refused.

Note: If we suspect that fraudulent documents were submitted, they will not be returned.

If your application is approved, any original documents, including your passport if submitted with your application, will be returned to you with the requested visa.

Visa-exempt visitors applying for a super visa

If your application is approved, your passport and documents will be returned to you with a letter of introduction.

Arrival in Canada

A valid Temporary Resident Visa is not a guarantee of entry into Canada. An officer at the port of entry will decide if you still meet the requirements for admission when you arrive.

If there has been a change in circumstances between the dates of your application for a visa and your arrival in Canada, or if subsequent information is given which was not originally available to the visa office, you may be refused entry.

When you arrive in Canada, the officer at the port of entry will determine whether you may enter Canada and how long you may stay. You must leave Canada on or before the date set by the officer or have your status extended by an officer in Canada. The stamp placed in your passport by a Canadian official is generally valid for a period of six (6) months unless another duration is specified by the official.

Parent and Grandparent super visa

If you applied for a super visa on or after June 22, 2023, your visitor status is valid for 5 years on each entry to Canada. See How long you can stay in Canada for more information.

You must leave Canada on or before the date set by the officer or apply to extend your stay before your status expires. It is your responsibility to maintain valid visitor status. If you enter Canada on or after June 22, 2023, and you have a stamp in your passport with no handwritten date, or if you have no stamp, you are allowed to stay for 5 years.

As a super visa holder, it is important to

renew or maintain your health insurance while in Canada and on re-entry
make sure your passport is valid while you’re in Canada

Note: for applicants who provided their biometric information as part of their application, when you arrive at the Canadian port of entry, the officer will:

check your travel documents and compare you to the photo taken at the time of your application, and
may ask you to proceed to a secondary inspection line where your fingerprints will be compared with the fingerprints that were taken at the time of your visa application.

What you can do to help processing

There are certain things you can do to help make sure your application is processed as fast as possible:

submit all documents and information we have asked for with your application
pay your application and biometric fees (if required)
provide your biometrics as soon as possible (if required)
mailing address;
telephone numbers;
facsimile number (fax);
e-mail address.

Things that delay processing

The following may delay processing:

unclear photocopies of documents;
verification of your information and documents;
a medical condition that may need more tests or consultations;
a criminal or security issue;
consultation is needed with other offices in Canada or abroad.

Current processing times

You can check current processing times on the Application processing times webpage.

Checking application status

See Check application status to find information on how to view your current status.

If you can’t view your current status, you may Contact Us to learn about your current status . To obtain details on how to remove your application status information from the Internet, visit the “ Frequently Asked Questions ” (FAQ) section.

Protecting your information

Your personal information, including biometric fingerprints and photograph, if given:

may be shared with other Canadian government institutions as well as foreign governments as permitted under the provisions of the Privacy Act ,
will be available to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) employees who need to see it in order to provide the services to you, and
will not be disclosed to anyone else except as permitted under the provisions of the Privacy Act .

You can find more information about the protection of your data by visiting the Help Centre .

Find out more about the protection of your biometric information.

Quality Assurance Program

Our quality assurance program randomly chooses applications for a special review. If chosen, we will ask you to attend an interview with an IRCC official to:

verify that the documentation and any other information you submitted is accurate,
verify that your application has been completed properly.

Note: We will notify you in writing if your application is chosen.

Online services

For more information about the programs offered by IRCC, visit Immigration and Citizenship .

If you need help, you can find answers to your questions by visiting the Help Centre .

Income Table 2023

Your child or grandchild may use the following income scale to assess their ability to meet the income requirements.

Provide two photos meeting the requirement of the Visa application photograph specifications . On the back of two photos, write your name and date of birth.

Note: if you are required to provide biometric fingerprints and photo, you are not required to include paper photos with your application.

How-to video

Find out if you are eligible

Page details

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Visas and immigration
Visit the UK

Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor

Apply for a standard visitor visa.

If you need a Standard Visitor visa, you must apply online before you travel to the UK and attend an appointment at a visa application centre.

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

You must meet the eligibility requirements and only do permitted activities .

Depending on your nationality, you may not need a visa to visit the UK. You can check if you need a visa before you apply.

You can apply for a Standard Visitor visa, or if you visit the UK regularly you can choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa instead.

Apply online

Once you’ve started your application you can save your form and complete it later.

If you’re applying with family members, each person must have their own application and pay the fee. They need to attend their own appointment at a visa application centre.

You can apply on behalf of your partner and child, if they cannot apply for themselves.

Your application will not be accepted and you will not get a refund if you have the right of abode in the UK (for example you’re a British citizen). You need to apply for a certificate of entitlement instead.

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it.

Find out how to sign in to your account .

Long-term Standard Visitor visas

You can choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa if you visit the UK regularly. This visa lasts 2, 5 or 10 years. You can stay for a maximum of 6 months on each visit.

If you’re under 18 years old when you apply , your long-term Standard Visitor visa will only be valid for up to 6 months after you turn 18. You cannot get a refund on the fee.

You may be given a shorter visa than requested if UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) believe you cannot meet the eligibility requirements for the duration of the visa you applied for.

You will not get a refund of the application fee if you get a shorter visa or if your application is refused.

Your visa may be cancelled if your travel history shows you are repeatedly living in the UK for extended periods.

Documents and information you’ll need to apply

You must have a passport or travel document that is valid for the whole of your stay in the UK. There must be a blank page in your passport for your Standard Visitor visa.

You’ll need to provide the following information in your online application:

the dates you’re planning to travel to the UK
where you’ll be staying during your visit
how much you think your trip will cost
your current home address and how long you’ve lived there
your parents’ names and dates of birth (if known)
how much you earn in a year (if you have an income)
details of any criminal, civil or immigration offences you may have committed

Depending on your circumstances, you might also need to provide:

details of your travel history for the past 10 years
your employer’s address and telephone number
your partner’s name, date of birth and passport number
the name and address of anyone paying for your trip
the name, address and passport number of any family members you have in the UK
a certificate proving that you’ve had a tuberculosis ( TB ) test if you’re visiting for more than 6 months

You need to provide additional documents if you’re visiting the UK:

as an academic
for certain paid engagements or events (a ‘permitted paid engagement’
for medical reasons

You must provide certified translations of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Proving your identity and providing your documents

As part of your online application, you need to book an appointment at a visa application centre. Allow time to attend your appointment, as the visa application centre could be in another country.

At your appointment, you’ll need to:

prove your identity with your passport or travel document
have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken
provide the required documents that show you’re eligible for a Standard Visitor visa

The visa application centre may keep your passport and documents while processing your application.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

You can check to see if you can get your visa decision faster .

You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application . This will explain what you need to do next.

If you need to change or cancel your application

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it, contact UKVI .

You can ask to cancel your application . You’ll only get your fee refunded if the application has not been processed yet.

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Brazil-bound us travelers will need to show bank statements to visit country next year.

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US travelers hoping to visit the beautiful beaches of Brazil will have to acquire a visa first beginning in 2025 — meaning they’ll have to share their bank statements with the South American country.

Beginning April 10, 2025, Brazil-bound travelers from the US, Canada and Australia need to be approved for a visa before their trip, CNN reported .

The application includes providing proof of income by either showing their last three checking or savings account statements or their previous six pay stubs, according to the Brazilian government’s website . Those who do not meet the threshold of $2,000 or more will need a sponsor.

Fortunately, the application process for an e-visa can be done online rather than at a consulate in person.

The visa fee is $80.90 with a 10-year validity and stays are limited to 90 days per year, the US Consulate in Brazil announced .

Additionally, Americans must provide a letter of intent outlining the duration and purpose of their trip and include information about where they will be staying.

They additionally must prove their US citizenship and show return tickets.

Brazil is reinstating the visa requirement for US tourists, who until 2019 had needed visas, according to CNN.

E-visas were introduced for just one year before the entire system was completely abolished.

Processing times for the Brazil visa system will be an average of five working days but officials “strongly recommend” applying two months before a trip.

View of Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro

The Brazilian Embassy and US State Department did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

For Brazilians planning to travel to the US, the process is much more complex, and visa systems between countries typically are established based on reciprocity, CNN reported.

Nearly all Brazilians must schedule an in-person visa appointment at their nearest embassy and prove they have the financial means to afford their planned trip. The visa costs $185.

Between January and September 2023, some 483,000 Americans visited Brazil — second only to its neighbor Argentina, according to TravelPulse.

Last year, the European Union decided to delay its controversial pre-travel program for American travelers, set to begin last May, until 2025 after several roadblocks.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System , of ETIAS, will apply to visitors without visas from 60 countries, including the US, UK and Canada.

The program is needed to enter 30 European countries , including Spain, Germany, France and Greece.

Applicants must provide passport information, and personal info such as their place of birth and their parents’ first names, education level, current occupation, anticipated trip details and any criminal convictions.

It also entails an $8 fee.

ETIAS visas are valid for three years or until your passport expires. Visitors can enter European countries as often as they want for short-term stays — typically for up to 90 days in an 180-day period.

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Brazil again extends visa exemptions for US, Canada and Australia, this time until 2025

Brazil’s government has extended exemptions to tourist visa requirements for citizens of the U.S., Australia and Canada until April 2025, extending a program aimed at boosting tourism that had been scheduled to end Wednesday

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil’s government extended exemptions to tourist visa requirements for citizens of the U.S., Australia and Canada until April 2025, extending a program aimed at boosting tourism that had been scheduled to end Wednesday.

The decision, issued by Brazilian presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Relations late Tuesday, marks the third time Brazil has delayed the visa requirement since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in 2023.

His predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, exempted the countries from visas as a means to boost tourism — although all three countries continued to demand visas from Brazilians.

That went against the South American country’s tradition of requiring visas from travelers based on the principle of reciprocity and equal treatment, and prompted Lula’s Foreign Ministry to say it would scrap the exemptions.

“Brazil does not grant unilateral exemption from visiting visas, without reciprocity, to other countries,” the ministry said at the time, while noting that the government stood ready to negotiate visa waiver agreements on a reciprocal basis. It did reach a deal with Japan to ease travel provisions.

The decision to maintain exemptions for the three countries is important for boosting tourism in Brazil, notably from the U.S., Brazil’s official tourism board Embratur said in a statement Tuesday.

Official data shows that nearly 670,000 Americans visited Brazil in 2023, making the U.S. the second largest country of origin after neighboring Argentina.

The government initially postponed the reinstatement of the visa requirement in October, then again in January. At the time, the government said it was still finalizing a new visa system and wanted to avoid implementing it close to the high season, mainly during the New Year’s celebrations and Carnival festivities in February, which attract tens of thousands of tourists.

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Bringing Children, Sons and Daughters to Live in the United States as Permanent Residents

The age and marital status of your children are important factors in the immigration process. For immigration purposes, a “child” is an unmarried person under 21 years of age. A “son” or “daughter” is a person who is married or is 21 years of age or older. For additional clarification, please read the requirements listed below.

A more detailed description of who is considered a "child" in the immigration process is given below. If you or your child, son or daughter currently serves in the U.S. military, see the Military section of the website.

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (signed with proper fee)

Evidence of your U.S. citizenship:

A copy of your U.S. birth certificate OR
A copy of your unexpired U.S. passport OR
A copy of Consular Report of Birth Abroad OR
A copy of your naturalization certificate OR
A copy of your certificate of citizenship

If you are a permanent resident, you must demonstrate your status with:

A copy (front and back) of Form I-551 (Green Card) OR
A copy of your foreign passport bearing a stamp showing temporary evidence of permanent residence.
If your name or your child’s name has changed, proof of legal name change (may include marriage certificate, divorce decree, adoption decree, court judgment of name change, etc.)
Proof of relationship (see chart below for case-specific requirements)

If your child, son, or daughter is outside the United States, you file Form I-130. The petition will be sent for consular processing after it is approved and a visa is available. The U.S. Embassy or consulate will provide notification and processing information.

If you are petitioning for a step-child and have not been married to the child’s genetic parent genetic or legal gestational mother for 2 years at the time the child receives permanent residence, the child will be granted conditional permanent resident (CPR) status. Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence is used to remove the conditional basis of permanent residence. (Note that Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card is NOT used for this purpose.)

If your spouse and child became CPRs at the same time or within 90 days, the child can be included in your spouse’s petition. If the child became a permanent resident more than 90 days after your spouse, the child will need to file a separate Form I-751.

Form I-751 must be filed within the 90-day period prior to the expiration date on the conditional resident card. If you fail to file during this time, your spouse and/or your child’s status will be terminated and they may be subject to removal from the United States. For more information, see the How Do I Guides .

For immigration purposes, a child can be any of the following:

A genetic child born in wedlock
If the mother is petitioning, no legitimation is required.
If the father is petitioning, legitimation is required in accordance with the laws of the father or child’s place of residence.
If the father is petitioning and the relationship is not legitimated under applicable laws, a bona fide parent-child relationship must be shown to have existed prior to the child’s 21st birthday and while the child was unmarried.
A child born through Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) to a non-genetic gestational mother who is recognized under the law of the relevant jurisdiction as the child’s legal parent at the time of the child’s birth.
A step-child, as long as the marriage creating the step-relationship occurred before the child turned 18
An adopted child if the child was adopted before age 16 (or before their 18th birthday, if certain circumstances described on the Adoption-Based Family Petition Process or Adoption-Based Form I-130 Process page apply), AND the adoptive parent has satisfied 2-year legal custody and joint residence requirements. (The legal custody and joint residence do not have to be during the same time period, but each must be met for a cumulative 2-year period.) NOTE: Most adoption-based immigration occurs through the orphan or Hague processes. If you are considering pursuing the Adoption-Based Form I-130 Process , you should review certain eligibility considerations. See the Adoption pages for more information.

To check the status of your visa petition, see the My Case Status page.

If you are a U.S. citizen, once you file Form I-130 , your child is eligible to apply for a nonimmigrant K-4 visa. This will entitle him or her to come to the United States to live and work or go to school while the visa petition is pending. To petition for this benefit, you may file Form I-129F . However, you are not required to file Form I-129F and your child does not require a K-4 visa. Your child may wait abroad for immigrant visa processing. Seeking a K-4 visa can be a method for him or her to come to the United States more quickly. For more information, see the “ K3-K4 Visa ” page.

If you are a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder) and you have filed Form I-130 for your child on or before December 21, 2000, your child may be eligible for the V visa classification if more than three years have passed since the I-130 was filed. For more information on V visas, see the V Nonimmigrant Visas page.

For more information, visit the Adjustment of Status within the United States page and Consular Processing overseas page.

If the visa petition you filed is denied, the denial letter will tell you how to appeal and when you must file the appeal. After your appeal form and the required fee are processed, the appeal may be sent to the Board of Immigration Appeals.

This section is for beneficiaries who became permanent residents through a preference classification.

If you had children who did not obtain permanent residence at the same time you did, they may be eligible for follow-to-join benefits. This means that you do not have to submit a separate Form I-130 for your children. In addition, your children will not have to wait any extra time for a visa number to become available. In this case, you may simply notify a U.S. consulate that you are a permanent resident so that your children can apply for an immigrant visa.

Your children may be eligible for following-to-join benefits if:

The relationship existed at the time you became a permanent resident and still exists, AND
You received an immigrant visa or adjusted status in a preference category.

If your family member (child) falls into this category and you adjusted to permanent residency in the United States, you may submit the following:

Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition
A copy of the original application or petition that you used to apply for immigrant status
A copy of Form I-797, Notice of Action, for the original application or petition
A copy of your Form I-551 (Green Card)

If you are in the United States and have not yet filed to adjust your status to permanent resident, you can file Form I-824 for your child overseas with your Form I-485. When concurrently filing Form I-824, it does not require any supporting documentation.

If you received the immigrant visa overseas, you may contact the National Visa Center (NVC) for follow-to-join information. Direct such inquiry by sending an e-mail to [email protected] or by writing to the National Visa Center, ATTN: WC, 32 Rochester Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801-2909.

I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act
I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition
I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiance(e)
Family Based Forms

Florida pre-med student stabs mother more than 70 times, killing her during visit, authorities say

A Florida pre-med university student killed his mother by stabbing her over 70 times without saying a word when he visited her from college over the weekend, authorities said.

After Emmanuel Espinoza, 21, killed his mother on Saturday, he perplexedly told detectives that he loved her and that they had a good relationship — but that he had wanted to kill her for years because she irritated him, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Espinoza has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his mother, 46-year-old Elvia Espinoza, the sheriff's office said.

The student at the University of Florida in Gainesville had traveled to Frostproof, Florida, for a family event Saturday and was going to stay with his mother, Judd said .

He arrived at her home around 2 p.m., knocked on the front door, and seemingly without provocation stabbed her "many times" after she opened the door, Judd said.

On Sunday, Judd shared doorbell camera video from Elvia's home that showed Emmanuel approach with a small knife in his right hand, hidden behind his back, and knock on the door. Judd said that Emmanuel had put AirPods in his ears and was playing Kanye West and Jay-Z's song “No Church in the Wild” when he drove up to the house and knocked on the front door.

“His beautiful mother, who was so excited to see her son, opened the door. The second she opened the door, he charged in and started stabbing her,” Judd said.

The mother ran from him, but "he stabbed her until she fell down and died."

Judd said Emmanuel confessed to stabbing his mother repeatedly, even when he noticed her hands were still moving. He told detectives that he knew where to stab her for maximum effect because of his biology classes.

Emmanuel told detectives that he had cut his hand in the stabbing. When he went to the kitchen sink to wash himself and the knife off, "he wanted to ask his mother for the Neosporin for the cut on his hand, but he noticed she was dead," Judd said.

Emmanuel immediately dialed 911 and confessed to operators.

Audio of the dispatch call was played for reporters Sunday.

“I killed someone,” Emmanuel is heard telling dispatch. “I stabbed my mom.”

When Emmanuel spoke with detectives, he told them he loved his mother and had a good relationship with her but that she irritated him.

“We talked to him and he confessed. He said, 'You know, I have wanted to kill my mother for many, many years because she got on my nerves,'" Judd said.

When asked, "What’s your relationship with your mother?" Espinoza replied: "About a eight out of 10."

"He really loved her, but she irritated him and he made up his mind today on his way from Gainesville that he would murder her, and that’s exactly what he did," Judd said Saturday.

The sheriff said Emmanuel told detectives he wasn't on drugs or alcohol at the time of the stabbing — nor did he have any history of such abuse or mental health issues, no arrest record and there was no record of calls under the Baker Act (which focuses on crisis services for individuals with mental illness) to the home.

Emmanuel was known to be introverted and quiet, with zero issues, Judd told reporters. He was the Class of 2020 valedictorian at his high school and was "described as being a genius."

"[Elvia] wanted to come see him because she hadn’t seen him in a while. They text every day, every other day, they stay in constant contact. No issues over money. She would send him money to make sure she appropriately funded his ability to go to college and enjoy his college life. No argument that day. He never said a word to her," Judd said.

Elvia Espinoza was a mother of three and beloved second-grade teacher at Ben Hill Griffin Elementary in Frostproof, and was "well-loved" by the community, the sheriff's office said, calling the incident "an inexplicable vicious murder."

“I want you to understand this lady who was a school teacher for 20 years actually moved around and taught at different schools while her kids were in school so she could be close to them,” Judd said. “I want you to understand that she was the perfect mom. I want you to understand that she was very proud of his accomplishments.”

“Then I want you to understand that he viciously murdered her and confessed to it,” he added.

Polk County Public Schools said in a statement: “Her students and colleagues greatly loved her, and her sudden, unexpected death is a devastating loss. She was a very special part of her school family.”

Grief counselors have been made available at her school and another school where she previously worked.

Breaking News Reporter

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Parents of Michigan School Shooter Sentenced to 10 to 15 Years in Prison

Jennifer and James Crumbley, whose son killed four people, each faced up to 15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter convictions.

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Jennifer Crumbley in a striped shirt sits not far from her husband James, in orange prison gear.

By Jacey Fortin and Anna Betts

Jennifer and James Crumbley, who were convicted of involuntary manslaughter for failing to prevent their teenage son from killing four fellow students in the deadliest school shooting in Michigan’s history, were each sentenced on Tuesday to 10 to 15 years in prison.

Their separate jury trials ended in guilty verdicts in February and March , making them the first parents in the country to be convicted over the deaths caused by their child in a mass shooting.

Involuntary manslaughter charges carry a penalty in Michigan of up to 15 years in prison, and prosecutors asked in sentencing memos filed to the court last week that the Crumbleys each serve at least 10 years. Both have been in jail for more than two years while awaiting trial and will receive credit for time served.

“Parents are not expected to be psychic,” Judge Cheryl Matthews of the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Mich., said before issuing the sentence. “But these convictions are not about poor parenting. These convictions confirm repeated acts or lack of acts that could have halted an oncoming runaway train — repeatedly ignoring things that would make a reasonable person feel the hair on the back of her neck stand up.”

Before the hearing, prosecutors said that Ms. Crumbley, 46, was asking to be sentenced to house arrest on her defense lawyer’s property, rather than serving prison time. And Mr. Crumbley, 47, said that he had been wrongly convicted and his sentence should amount to the time he had already served in prison, adding that he felt “absolutely horrible” about what had happened.

On Tuesday, each of them spoke in the hearing before the judge pronounced sentence.

“I stand today not to ask for your forgiveness, as I know it may be beyond reach, but to express my sincerest apologies for the pain that has been caused,” Ms. Crumbley said in court, addressing the relatives of students who were killed.

Mr. Crumbley also apologized. “I cannot express how much I wish that I had known what was going on with him or what was going to happen, because I absolutely would have done a lot of things differently,” he said.

Relatives of some of the victims also spoke during the hearing, describing the overwhelming effects the shooting had on their lives.

“The ripple effects of both James’s and Jennifer’s failures to act have devastated us all,” said Jill Soave, the mother of Justin Shilling, 17, who was killed in the shooting at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. “This tragedy was completely preventable. If only they had done something, your honor, anything, to shift the course events on Nov. 30, then our four angels would be here today.”

Steve St. Juliana, whose daughter, Hana, 14, was killed, said that the Crumbleys continued to fail to take responsibility for what had happened.

“They chose to stay quiet,” he said. “They chose to ignore the warning signs. And now, as we’ve heard through all of the objections, they continue to choose to blame everyone but themselves.”

The Crumbleys’ son, Ethan, was 15 when he carried out the shooting that killed Justin and Hana, as well as Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Tate Myre, 16. Seven others were injured. Ethan Crumbley pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including first-degree murder, and was sentenced last year to life in prison without parole . He is still eligible to appeal that decision. His parents may appeal, too.

In the trials of both parents, prosecutors focused in part on their failure to remove their son from school after he made a violent drawing on the morning of the shooting. It included a written plea for help.

They also emphasized Ethan’s access to a handgun that Mr. Crumbley had purchased. And they said that Ms. Crumbley had missed signs that her son was struggling with his mental health, adding that she took him to a gun range just days before the shooting.

Defense lawyers for both parents said they could not have foreseen the unspeakable violence their son would commit.

Ms. Crumbley grew up in Clarkston, a Detroit suburb about 20 minutes from Oxford, her lawyer said during a hearing after the couple’s arrest in 2021 . Before her arrest, she had worked as a marketing director, her lawyer said.

Mr. Crumbley’s job history included work at a handful of small software and technology companies.

The couple once lived in Florida but returned to Michigan several years ago, their lawyers said. They bought their home near downtown Oxford in 2015.

The trials of Jennifer and James Crumbley became a lightning rod for issues of parental responsibility at a time of high-profile gun violence by minors. In recent months, parents in other states have pleaded guilty to charges of reckless conduct or neglect after their children injured or killed others with guns.

But the manslaughter charges against the Crumbleys were unique, and legal experts said their trials could serve as a playbook for other prosecutors who seek to hold parents accountable in the future.

Ekow Yankah, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School, said the effect of the ruling on Tuesday might be felt beyond the state.

“This is going to be precedent, most obviously in Michigan and its home jurisdiction, but prosecutors all over the country will see this as a new and viable form of liability,” Mr. Yankah said. “I think we should not underestimate the precedential power of this case, even as we recognize that the facts were quite extraordinary.”

For Matthew Schneider, a former United States attorney in Michigan, what makes this case so different from many others is that most criminal sentences are related to the actions of a defendant, rather than being “about inactions, and how the inactions of a person result in a criminal sentence.”

The sentencing is “very much about making an example of the defendants,” Mr. Schneider said. “This is a shot across the bow to all parents, to all people who have firearms in their house, to keep them locked up, if they could be in the hands of the wrong people.”

Jacey Fortin covers a wide range of subjects for the National desk of The Times, including extreme weather, court cases and state politics all across the country. More about Jacey Fortin

Anna Betts reports on national events, including politics, education, and natural or man-made disasters, among other things. More about Anna Betts

Blog The Education Hub

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/04/02/how-to-claim-15-hours-free-childcare-code/

Thousands of parents of two-year-olds benefit from 15 hours free childcare - here's how

We’re making the  biggest investment  by a UK government into childcare in history, doubling the amount we expect to spend over the next few years from around £4 billion to around £8 billion each year.

We've already started to rollout the first phase of the expansion. As of April 2024, eligible parents of children who have turned 2-years-old before 1 April are getting help with their childcare costs by accessing 15 hours of government-funded childcare.

The rollout of support is part of our plan to help families – freeing thousands of couples from having to choose between having a family and a career.

This builds on existing government-funded childcare and later in the year the support will be extended to include some children from when they turn 9-months-old.

Currently, eligible working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds can access 30 hours of childcare support.
Eligible working parents of 2-year-olds are also now able to access 15 hours childcare support.
From  September 2024 , 15 hours childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents with a child from 9-months-old.
From  September 2025 , support will reach 30 hours for eligible working parents with a child from 9-months-old up to school age.

When can I apply?

Applications are now open for eligible working parents whose children will be 2 or older by the 31 August to receive 15 hours childcare, starting from September 2024.

And from 12 May, eligible working parents whose children will be aged between 9- and 23-months old on 31st August, can apply to receive 15 hours childcare starting from September 2024.

It’s important to remember that codes need to be renewed every three months, so parents applying close to 12 May will need to renew their code prior to the offer starting in September.

You are able to claim your place the term after your child turns the relevant age. This gives local authorities and childcare providers enough time to prepare.

How do I apply? 

You apply online here on   Gov.uk once you have checked our  eligibility criteria .

You’ll need to make sure you have the following information to hand before starting the application:

your national insurance number (or unique taxpayer reference if you are self-employed)
the date you started or are due to start work
details of any government support or benefits you receive
the UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) for your child.

You may find out if you’re eligible straight away, but it can take up to 7 days.

Once your application has been approved, you’ll get a code to give to your childcare provider.

Eligible parents are also able to access Tax-Free Childcare through the same application system. You can apply for Tax-Free Childcare at any time. However, you don't need to apply for Tax-Free Childcare to be eligible to apply for the 15 hours childcare scheme.

What happens once I receive my code?

Once you receive your code, you’ll need to take it to your childcare provider, along with your National Insurance number and your child’s date of birth.

Your childcare provider will process the code to provide your place.

Places will be available for September in every area of the country, but a significant minority of settings hold waiting lists of over six months. If you have a preferred nursery for September, you should reach out now to secure a place for your child ahead of receiving your code.

Your local authority can provide support for finding a government-funded place in your area.

What if I’m already registered for Tax Free Childcare?

Parents must reconfirm that they are still eligible for Tax-Free Childcare every 3 months.

Parents who are already claiming Tax-Free Childcare and need to reconfirm their eligibility between 1 April and 12 May will be automatically issued a code in the post from HMRC soon after the 12 May.

This is to ensure every parent can give their code to their provider in good time. This code will be valid to apply for 15 hours of government-funded childcare from September.

If I receive a code in a letter from HMRC, does this make my code on my Childcare Account invalid?

No. Both codes will be valid.

Do I need to wait for my reconfirmation window to add another child to my account?

A parent who is already using the childcare service for another child can add a new child to their account at any time.

Your reconfirmation cycle for your current Tax-Free Childcare will not affect this.

How are you making sure there will be enough childcare places for eligible parents?

Parents that have a preferred place for September should reach out now to their local provider to secure a physical place for their child ahead of time.

To make sure there are enough places available, we’re investing over £400 million in 2024-25 to increase the hourly rates paid to local authorities.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has independently reported that the average funding rates for two-year-olds and under 2s paid by government from April 2024 are projected to be substantially higher than the market rate paid by parents last year, and we have committed to further increases to provider rates for the next two years.

We have also committed to increasing hourly funding rates over the next two years by an estimated £500 million, to make sure providers can increase places at each phase of the rollout.

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The Education Hub is a site for parents, pupils, education professionals and the media that captures all you need to know about the education system. You’ll find accessible, straightforward information on popular topics, Q&As, interviews, case studies, and more.

Please note that for media enquiries, journalists should call our central Newsdesk on 020 7783 8300. This media-only line operates from Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm. Outside of these hours the number will divert to the duty media officer.

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Visitor Visa
Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for a temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (visa category B-1), for tourism (visa category B-2), or for a combination of both ...
Family of U.S. Citizens
Family of U.S. Citizens. This page describes how you (a U.S. citizen) may petition for certain family members to receive either a Green Card, a fiancé (e) visa or a K-3/K-4 visa based on your relationship. (If your relative wishes to naturalize or obtain proof of citizenship, see the Citizenship section of our website.)
How Can I Bring My Parents to Visit the United States?
Once your parents applied for a visitor visa online, they will go to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where they live for a visa interview. If your parents are 80 years old or older, then an interview is generally not required. But if your parents are under 80, then an interview is usually required (with some exceptions for renewals).
How to apply for a B2 visitor visa for parents in the U.S. [2024]
Applying for a B-2 tourist visa for your parents to visit the United States involves several steps: 1. Completing the Visa Application. The application process starts with completing the online Form DS-160, which collects biographical information, travel plans, and other relevant details. Each parent must fill out a separate DS-160 form.
US Visa Guide for Senior Citizens
The next step is gathering the required documents, which will be discussed in the following section. Creating a Profile and Paying the Visa Application Fee. Tips for Success. Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form. Double-check all information provided in the DS-160 form to ensure accuracy.
COMPLETE Guide to apply US Visitor Visa(B2) for Parents [2024]
Basic Requirements: Passports, Funds for US Trip, Documents. 2. Employment Letter from your Company or Graduation Letter. 3. Step-by-Step Process for Parents' US Visitor Visa (B2) 4. Step 1: Complete DS-160, Book US Visa Appointment. 5. Step 2: Prepare for US Visitor Visa (B2) Interview, Documents.
PDF Inviting Your Relatives to the United States for a Visit (Tourist visa
Relatives such as parents, brother, sister, in-laws, etc. need to obtain a tourist visa (B-2 visa) in order to visit, even if they plan to live with you during their stay. While a "Certificate of Eligibility" (I-20 or DS-2019) is issued for your dependents (spouse / children), there is no visa document issued to a student who wishes to ...
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The process to renew a visitor visa is the same as getting one for the first time. Follow the process to apply for a visitor visa from the Department of State. Find the contact information for your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and contact them for visa renewal information. LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023.
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IR-5 Visa Eligibility. Eligibility for an IR-5 visa depends on the following factors: The U.S. citizen sponsor must be age 21 or older. The sponsor must have the financial means to support the parent until they start working. The sponsor must live in the United States and have a U.S. address. The sponsor must include a copy of their birth ...
DS-160: Frequently Asked Questions
First, if you plan to apply for a visa in the future, save your DS-160 to your hard drive or a disk using the instructions in the FAQ above. When you go to apply for your new visa you can then select "Option B-Upload a Previously Saved Application" on the Getting Started page.
Visit the U.S.
Generally, if you want to visit (and not live in) the United States you must first obtain a visitor visa.Travelers from certain countries may be exempt from this requirement. For more information, please see the U.S. Department of State website.. If you want to travel to the United States for reasons other than business or pleasure, you must apply for a visa in the appropriate category.
Family-based immigrant visas and sponsoring a relative
You can submit the form online or by mail. The process for your relative to immigrate to the U.S. requires that both you, as the sponsor, and your relative, as the visa applicant, complete the necessary steps. The process is different depending on whether your family member is already in the U.S. or abroad. Submitting Form I-130 is the first ...
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If it is approved and your parent is outside the United States, we will notify your parent to go to the local U.S. consulate to complete visa processing. If your parent is currently in the United States, your parent may be eligible to file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status, at the same time as you file ...
Family Immigration
Family Based Immigration. A foreign citizen seeking to live permanently in the United States requires an immigrant visa (IV). To be eligible to apply for an IV, a foreign citizen must be sponsored by an immediate relative who is at least 21 years of age and is either a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (that is, a green-card holder ...
Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa
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Guide 5256
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Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: Apply for a Standard Visitor visa
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Family Migration program. Australia offers a range of visa options for parents of settled Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens to reunite with their children in Australia. This includes both temporary and permanent visa options. A limited number of permanent Parent visa places are available each ...
Visitor visa (subclass 600)
The Department of Home Affairs acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their cultures and to their elders past, present and emerging. For tourists, business visitors or to visit ...
Green Card for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizen
The parent of a U.S. citizen (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years of age or older). ... An immigrant visa is immediately available to you at the time you file your Form I-485 and at the time USCIS makes a final decision on your application; ... Immigrant visas for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are unlimited, so the visas are always available.
Brazil-bound US travelers will need to show bank statement to visit
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Parents of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley both sentenced to 10
PONTIAC, Mich. — The first parents to ever be charged, then convicted, in their child's mass shooting at a U.S. school were both sentenced Tuesday to 10 to 15 years in prison after they faced ...
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Brazil's government has postponed until April 2025 tourist visa exemptions for citizens of the U.S., Australia, and Canada that had been scheduled to end on Wednesday ... Parents of Michigan ...
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An Idaho teenager was arrested and accused of planning to kill churchgoers during services across his hometown in the name of the Islamic State group, authorities have said.
Bringing Children, Sons and Daughters to Live in the United ...
Seeking a K-4 visa can be a method for him or her to come to the United States more quickly. For more information, see the " K3-K4 Visa " page. If you are a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder) and you have filed Form I-130 for your child on or before December 21, 2000, your child may be eligible for the V visa classification if ...
Florida pre-med student stabs mother more than 70 times, killing her
A Florida pre-med university student killed his mother by stabbing her over 70 times without saying a word when he visited her from college over the weekend, authorities said.
Crumbley Parents Sentenced to 10 to 15 Years in Michigan School
Before the hearing, prosecutors said that Ms. Crumbley, 46, was asking to be sentenced to house arrest on her defense lawyer's property, rather than serving prison time.
Thousands of parents of two-year-olds benefit from 15 hours free
Eligible working parents of 2-year-olds are also now able to access 15 hours childcare support. From September 2024, 15 hours childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents with a child from 9-months-old. From September 2025, support will reach 30 hours for eligible working parents with a child from 9-months-old up to school age.