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Can a US citizen whose parents are citizens of Iran sponsor them for immigration to the the US? I learned that there is an exemption to the new travel ban which allows visas for family members. But does this extend to allowing applications for green cards for family members?

phoog
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Cave Johnson
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1 Answers1

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Based on the proclamation from Trump (my emphasis), the answer would seem to be that in general green card applications are now suspended.

(h) Iran

(i) Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism. Iran regularly fails to cooperate with the United States Government in identifying security risks, is the source of significant terrorism around the world, and has historically failed to accept back its removable nationals.

(ii) The entry into the United States of nationals of Iran as immigrants and nonimmigrants is hereby suspended.

However, there are exemptions as listed in this proclamation:

The pertinent exception would seem to be (my emphasis):

(v) immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g., DNA);

And IR-5 is for parents, and according to this State Department Family Immigration site your wife can apply for this visa if she is a US citizen (my emphasis).

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

However, there is no guarantee that such a petition will be accepted.

Note that this answer was written before the question was edited to remove references to the OP's wife, her parents, and their nationality, all of whom are Iranian

Peter M
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