Parents Green Card process: Apply I-130 and I-485 together or separately?

[OnlyADad]

Hello,

I am a US Citizen and preparing to apply for my mom and dad's green cards. They are here in the US, with us, on B2 visa presently. They are both Indian citizens. With the application process, I am trying to optimize for time -- i.e., sooner they can get the GC or Advanced Parole, the better as they can travel. It is OK if that means more fees. With that in mind, is it better to file I-130 and I-485 together? Or does it speed things up if we first apply for I-130 and then I-485?

Follow up question -- My understanding is that we can expect the green cards to arrive within 6 months or so. But, is it prudent to file I-131 for Advance Parole together with I-485 or file it after the pending receipt/confirmation of I-485? thinking that this would allow them to travel sooner in case green cards take longer to arrive.

I've searched through the forums and couldn't find the exact answer to my question. Thank you for taking the time to answer.

[newacct]

I don't think there is much difference between filing I-130 and I-485 together by mail, and filing I-130 online and then immediately filing I-485 the next day by mail with the I-130 receipt. I don't think they should expect I-485 to be approved in 6 months. It could be much longer. I-765 for EAD and I-131 for Advance Parole are both free for I-485 applicants, so there is no downside to applying for them. I-765 and I-131 can be filed together with I-485; filing them later is doable but it would just unnecessarily delay them.

[OnlyADad]

Thanks for your reply, really appreciate the insight. We'll apply for I-131 together with I-485 then. Any idea how long it takes to get the AP, so they can travel to India and come back if needed?

[torrentblitzer]

Applied in Jan 2022 (Viroginia). Still waiting on GC. AP applied in April 2023. Still waiting for that. It depends on which state you are in. If they have to travel back, you can now apply for urgent APNin case your original AP is pending for than 120 days.