Where do I start the process of getting my mother a green card? 14 Answers as of November 01, 2011

You can apply for lawful permanent residence for your mother through the immigrant visa process. You would file an I-130, which would initiate the process to verify the family relationship for the purpose of your mother immigrating to the U.S. You would then be contacted by the Department of State to start the process of her being interviewed at the U.S. consulate or embassy abroad.

The best place to start is visiting an immigration attorney. You can file an immigrant petition for your mother.

You file the I-130 relative petition and after it is approved, she would apply for the immigrant visa the US embassy or US consulate in her home country.

Your first step is the filing of the petition for alien relative (form I-130). This is first submitted to USCIS and is the basis for your mother's immigration. Once this first step is approved, the National Visa Center will contact you and give you instructions as to the second step to prepare your mother' interview at the US Consulate in her home country. Please carefully read the I-130 instructions before you submit anything and if you have questions please hire an attorney to guide you through this process.

You can file an I-130 petition for her. It takes about 1 1/2 years.

You file an I-130 visa petition with supporting documents to USCIS. The instructions for the form and required documentation are available at USCIS.gov

If you are a USC, you can start right away. Your mother is an immediate relative so the process will take about 9-12 months under current processing times. You will use the three step consular processing method. When she enters the US, she will then be processed for her green card.

If you are a U.S. citizen and 21 years or older, you are able to file an immigrant petition on behalf of your mother. In addition to filing the petition, there are several factors that need to be reviewed to determine your mother's eligibility for an immigrant visa. While you are not required to have an attorney represent you in this type of petition, it is always advisable to consult with an attorney of your choice before you file the petition with immigration.

You can petition for your mother once you are 21 years of age. The process begins with the filing of an I-130 immigrant visa petition in which you must establish the bona fides of the relationship. Once the I-130 is approved, the case is sent to the National Visa Center which is the hub for consular processing around the world. The National Visa Center will send you forms that you must complete for your mother, including the affidavit of support. The affidavit of support is to demonstrate that you have sufficient income to prevent your mother from obtaining welfare. After you complete the forms and send them to the National Visa Center, your mother will be scheduled for an interview at the consulate. There, they will determine if there is anything in her past that would prevent her from immigrating such as crimes, immigration violations, etc. If everything goes well, she will enter as a permanent resident.

First, you must be 21 years of age to petition for your mother. If you are that age, the next step is to speak with and retain an immigration attorney to file the petition.