# How to petition for your child (unmarried, under 21) > Green card for the unmarried under-21 child of a U.S. citizen: the I-130 petition, the $675 fee, both paths, and why age and marital status matter. Canonical: https://www.popimmigration.com/guides/petition-child-usc Publisher: Pop Immigration (https://www.popimmigration.com) Last reviewed: 2026-07-20 An unmarried child under 21 of a U.S. citizen is an immediate relative — the category with no visa queue. The petition itself is straightforward; what deserves attention is the category's edges, because marriage or a 21st birthday changes the case. Here is the structure, every claim cited. This is general process description, not advice about any individual case. ## The petition and the fee The case starts with Form I-130, one petition per child, establishing the parent-child relationship with civil documents: the child's birth certificate, the petitioner's proof of citizenship, and — where documents come from another country — certified English translations. Under the current G-1055 schedule the I-130 costs $675 on paper or $625 online. USCIS fees change periodically — before filing, verify current amounts on the official USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) at uscis.gov/g-1055. ## Immediate relative: no waiting line Because an unmarried under-21 child of a citizen is an immediate relative, a visa is always available — there is no annual-quota line to stand in. The case moves at the speed of the paperwork and USCIS processing, which makes completeness the family's main lever: a petition that arrives with the relationship fully documented has nothing extra to wait on. ## The second stage: where the child is A child living abroad completes consular processing — an immigrant-visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. A child already in the United States after a lawful entry may be able to file Form I-485 and adjust status here; a child under 14 filing together with a parent's I-485 pays a reduced $950 fee under the current schedule. Which path applies turns on the child's location, manner of entry, and history — a case-by-case question. ## Why age and marital status matter The immediate-relative category belongs to unmarried children under 21. Marriage — at any point before permanent residence — moves the case into a preference category with annual limits and a real waiting line, and turning 21 can too. Federal law contains age-counting rules (the Child Status Protection Act) that affect some cases, and how they apply to a particular child is an individualized legal question: a child approaching 21 with a case in motion is a situation to put in front of a licensed immigration attorney promptly. As with every family case, criminal history, prior removal proceedings, prior denials, or complex admissibility issues also mean attorney, not filing tool — this site's assessment flags those situations and refers them. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there a visa waiting line for my child? Not while the child is an unmarried under-21 child of a U.S. citizen — that is the immediate-relative category, with a visa always available. Marriage or turning 21 changes the category. ### How much does the petition cost? The I-130 is $675 on paper or $625 online under the current schedule, one petition per child. Verify current amounts at uscis.gov/g-1055. ### My child is in the U.S. — do they have to leave to get the green card? Not necessarily. A child in the United States after a lawful entry may be able to adjust status with Form I-485; a child abroad goes through consular processing. Which path applies is a case-by-case question. ### What happens if my child turns 21 while the case is pending? Age-counting rules in federal law (the Child Status Protection Act) affect some cases, and their application is an individualized legal question — a child approaching 21 mid-case belongs in front of an immigration attorney promptly. ### What if my child gets married? Marriage before permanent residence moves the case out of the immediate-relative category into a preference category with annual limits and a waiting line. ## Sources - USCIS — Green Card for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizen; Family of U.S. Citizens: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-eligibility/green-card-for-immediate-relatives-of-us-citizen - USCIS — Family of U.S. Citizens (category structure); Visa Availability and Priority Dates: https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-of-us-citizens - USCIS — Child Status Protection Act (CSPA): https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/child-status-protection-act --- Pop Immigration is an educational and organizational tool, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. HTML version: https://www.popimmigration.com/guides/petition-child-usc