Family Green Card Planner

Step by step

1. 1
   Petitioner · USCIS

   File Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)

   Proof of your status (US passport, naturalization certificate or green card) plus proof of the relationship — for a parent, your birth certificate showing that parent’s name (and for a father, the parents’ marriage certificate).

   • I-130 (paper; online is $625)$675

   USCIS: Form I-130 · USCIS: Form G-1055 Fee Schedule (edition 10/16/26)

2. 2
   Both · NVC

   NVC: pay fees, file the DS-260 and upload documents

   In CEAC: pay the immigrant visa fee and the affidavit of support fee, complete the DS-260 online application, and upload the I-864 with the petitioner’s financial evidence and the beneficiary’s civil documents. NVC reviews them, then schedules the interview.

   Civil documents for people from mainland China

   • Notarial certificates (公证书). In mainland China these documents are notarial certificates issued by a local notary office (公证处), with an English translation and a certificate that the translation conforms to the original. The reciprocity schedule puts the cost at roughly RMB 300–500 each including translation.
   • Birth. Notarial birth certificate. Guangzhou asks that it show both parents’ names.
   • Police certificate. Notarial certificate of no criminal record, issued by the notary office based on a Public Security Bureau record; needed if 16 or older and lived in China 6+ months. Guangzhou requires it to be issued within the last 24 months.
   • Marriage / divorce. Notarial marriage certificate if married in mainland China; notarial divorce certificate for any prior marriage that ended.
   • Household register (户口簿). Used to obtain the notarial certificates above; it is not listed as a separate document to submit.

   Documents not in English need a certified English translation. Full list: China reciprocity schedule

   • Immigrant visa application (DS-260), paid to NVC$325
   • Affidavit of support review, paid to NVC$120

   travel.state.gov: The Immigrant Visa Process · travel.state.gov: Fees for Visa Services · CEAC: Consular Electronic Application Center · travel.state.gov: Step 7, collect civil documents

3. 3
   Beneficiary

   Medical exam with an embassy-approved panel physician

   Complete it before the interview, with an embassy-approved panel physician in the country where you will be interviewed; exams by other doctors are not accepted. Required vaccinations are part of the exam. The fee is paid to the clinic.

   Guangzhou International Travel Health Care Center (Poly Building, 59 Huali Rd, Zhujiang New Town); listed fee RMB 1,700 for age 15+. The same PDF also lists approved clinics in Beijing, Fuzhou and Shanghai.

   travel.state.gov: Step 10, prepare for the interview (medical exam) · travel.state.gov: Guangzhou immigrant visa instructions (PDF, 2-3-2026)

4. 4
   Beneficiary · Consulate

   Immigrant visa interview at the US Consulate General in Guangzhou

   Guangzhou is the only US post in mainland China that processes immigrant visas. The post goes by where your relative lives, not where they were born. 9 FAM 504.4-8 Bring the original civil documents, passport and the appointment letter. If approved, the immigrant visa is placed in the passport.

   U.S. Embassy & Consulates in China: Immigrant Visas · 9 FAM 504.4-8: where immigrant visa applicants apply (residence, not nationality) · travel.state.gov: Embassies and consulates that process immigrant visas

5. 5
   Beneficiary · USCIS

   Pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee online

   Pay after the visa is issued and before travelling; USCIS uses it to produce the green card.

   • USCIS Immigrant Fee$235

   USCIS: USCIS Immigrant Fee

6. 6
   Beneficiary

   Enter the US; the green card arrives by mail

   Enter before the visa expires. You become a permanent resident on admission; the card is mailed to the US address you gave.

   travel.state.gov: The Immigrant Visa Process

Per beneficiary, at the paper-filing I-130 fee. Not included: the medical exam (paid to the doctor), translations, notarial certificates, passport photos, travel. Fees change — confirm with the USCIS fee calculator and the State Department fee page.

How long each step takes changes monthly; check USCIS processing times (I-130 / I-485) and NVC timeframes.

Good to know

• Health insurance, public charge and keeping the green card while spending time in China: see Notes for parents.