F2B Visa (Family Preference Visa)
The F2B Visa is a Family Preference Visa which offers a Green Card to unmarried adult children of Green Card holders in the United States. Those who are successful in their application will be permitted to live in the United States for up to five years.
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What is the F2B Visa?
The F2B visa is a Family Based Green Card which falls into the category of US Family Preference Visa. It is designed for unmarried children over the age of 21 of U.S. Green Card holders.
There are two options with an F2 visa which are F2A and F2B. Every year, the number of available F2 visas is capped at around 114,200, with 70% going to F2A visas and 30% to F2B visas.
The F2B visa provides Green Card holders the chance to reunite with their child in the United States. Your child will be legally entitled to live, work and study in the U.S..
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Who is Eligible for the F2B Visa?
If your child is over the age of 21 and is unmarried, they will be eligible for a Green Card via the F2B visa route. Bear in mind that if the child gets married before the petition is accepted, they will not be eligible for the F2B visa.
In addition, the child will need to complete application forms and provide a number of documents in their application.
The most important of these documents is proof of the relationship between the child and the Green Card holder, through a birth or adoption certificate.
Who is Eligible to be a Sponsor?
There are a few fundamental requirements which any sponsor must be able to fulfil in order to act as a sponsor in an F2B visa application.
These are:
- Must be a Green Card holder
- Must be the parent of the person they are petitioning for, and be able to prove it
- Must be living in the U.S. and have a verified address inside the country
How do I Apply for an F2B Visa?
The application process comprises of two main parts. First, the sponsor must complete a petition for their child and send it to the USCIS. Once this has been accepted, the child begins the visa application process in their home country through the U.S. embassy or consulate.
What is the F2B Visa Application Process?
The application process generally follows these steps:
- The sponsor completes the petition form and sends it to USCIS
- NVC receives accepted petition form and documents
- NVC sends a package to the beneficiary which will then explain the next steps
- A visa application slot becomes available and the F2A visa application process begins
- The adult child completes Form DS-260
- The applicant collects the required documents together. The medical examination is taken and vaccinations are given.
- The applicant attends the visa interview at U.S. embassy or consulate
- Applicant receives NVC packet and travels to the U.S.
- Sponsor completes petition form and sends it to USCIS
- NVC receives accepted petition form and documents
- NVC sends a package to the beneficiary, which explains the next steps
- Visa application slot becomes available and the F2A visa application process begins
- Adult child completes Form DS-260
- Applicant collects required documents together and medical examination and vaccinations are taken
- Applicant attends visa interview at U.S. embassy or consulate
- Applicant receives NVC packet and travels to the U.S.
What is the Petition Stage?
The first step of the whole process is the petition stage. This is an absolutely necessary step in the F2B visa application process. If a petition isn’t submitted, or is submitted and rejected, you cannot proceed with the application.
Both the Green Card holder and sponsor need to complete the petition. Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) will need to be completed then the petition will be processed by the USCIS.
The sponsor will receive a reply from the USCIS. If the petition is rejected, the sponsor will be notified of the reasons for the rejection. This gives the sponsor the opportunity to rectify the problems and send the petition again.
If the petition is accepted, the documents will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing.
Soon after, the adult child applicant will receive a package from the NVC, offering a detailed explanation of the next steps in the process.
What are the Next Steps in the F2B Visa Application Process?
Once the adult child applicant receives the package from the NVC, they will need to wait for a visa application slot to become available.
Keep in mind that an applicant may have to wait until next year for the application process to begin if the cap has already been reached for that particular year.
When a slot becomes available, the applicant must fill in the online Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Electronic Application).
It is imperative that you print out the confirmation page and number once you have completed the form. This information needs to be included in your bundle of documents to send to the NVC.
What are the Required Documents for an F2B Visa Application?
All F2B visa applicants will need to include a number of documents in their application. These include:
- Passport which is valid for 6 months after planned entry into the U.S.
- Valid birth certificate or adoption certificate
- A signed Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support from U.S. petitioner)
- Form DS-260 confirmation page
- Medical examination and vaccination documents
- Two photographs which adhere to the photo requirements for a U.S. visa
- Court and criminal records and/or police certificate
- If the applicant has been married previously, they must bring divorce certificates or certificates of death to prove the marriage was officially terminated
- If the applicant has served in the military, military certificates must be provided
Any documents which are not in English must be translated by an accredited translator. Documents which are not in English will not be accepted in the application.
Medical Examination and Vaccinations
Any person who wants to immigrate to the United States must take a medical examination and receive certain vaccinations. The package which applicants receive from the NVC will explain which medical examinations and vaccinations need to be taken.
What is the Interview Stage?
Once you have sent your application to the NVC with all of your required documents, your application will then be processed. The NVC will determine whether you meet the necessary requirements. If they are satisfied, an interview will be arranged at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country of residence.
The interview is the last stage of the F2B visa application process, and it is a vital part of it. The embassy/consulate will have a copy of your application at the interview. An official from the embassy will interview you and decide whether to accept or reject your F2B visa application.
If you are successful, the U.S. embassy/consulate will stamp the visa in your passport, and you will be permitted to travel to the United States.
You will also be given a sealed packet, which you must not open. You need to take this packet with you when you travel to the United States. A U.S. immigration official will open it when you arrive at the U.S. airport.
The interview stage of the process can be a nervous time for applicants. For support and guidance on the interview, call us now on +1 844 290 6312.
How Much does the F2B Visa Application Cost?
There are a number of costs associated with the F2B visa application.
The main fees are the following:
- I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative form): (currently $535)
- Processing fee for DS-260 form
- Vaccination fee
- Medical examination fee
- Fees for translation of documents
- USCIS immigrant fee. This needs to be paid after you receive your visa and before you travel to the U.S.
What Happens if my Sponsor Becomes a U.S. Citizen Before my Application is Processed?
Due to the length of time it can take for an F2B visa to process, the applicant’s sponsor might become a U.S. citizen before the visa application is processed.
In this situation, the sponsor will be able to submit a new petition for an Immediate Relative application. Immediate Relative applications have no quotas, and applicants will enjoy quicker processing times.
How can IAS help with my F2B Visa Application?
With IAS, your application will be completed by one of our expert immigration attorneys, maximizing your chances of a successful outcome.
Your advisor will also review the annual F2B Visa bulletin to check the availability of this permit. Subsequently, you will receive all the advice necessary to proceed with your application.
Contact us today on +1 844 290 6312, or use our online contact form.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Immigration Advice Service before making any decisions based on the content provided.
Last modified on August 29th, 2023 at 9:51 am
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Frequently Asked Questions
To be eligible for an F2B Visa, your immediate family members need to meet the legal definition of “child”. They can still be 21 years old, but they must be unmarried. If they get married before the petition is approved, their application will be revoked. If your children are under the age of 21, they can also fall into the F2A visa category for dependents of U.S. permanent residents.
Once they get their visa, your children will be allowed to live, study and work in the U.S. as permanent residents.
Every month, the Department of State issues the F2B Visa bulletin.
This document defines the terms and the deadline for applying from foreign countries. It also helps you estimate your F2B Visa remaining processing time. Once you file your I-130 petition, you will be able to check your status and your place in the waiting line.
The FB2 Visa application process follows the same timeline as other family-based visas.
Once your I-130 petition is approved, your adult child will receive further instructions. However, if the cap for this year is reached, you must wait until you are in line for the next set, meaning you must wait another year.
When the date on your visa date becomes current, you will be able to proceed with your application. This means that your petition has been processed and that there is no more waiting time for your category. Your child must then file the online Form DS-260.
The last step before you can get your visa is the interview. It will take place at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence, and it is a crucial part of your application. Your F2B Visa interview questions will primarily be about your intention once in the U.S.
You will need several documents and evidence to support your F2B Visa application, such as:
- A valid passport for every applicant adult child;
- The Form DS-260 confirmation page;
- Medical check-ups and vaccination evidence;
- Your children birth certificate or adoption certificate;
- You and your child’s court and criminal records.
After turning 21, your unmarried son or daughter will still meet the legal definition of “child”. However, he or she will not be considered part of your immediate family anymore.
The number of children over 21 allowed in the country under the F2B category is considerably small. Thus, F2B Visa processing time can even take longer.
Although there are a few cases of applicants waiting many years for their visa, usually this process takes an average of 2 years. While you wait until your application date becomes current, your lawyer will still be supporting you. Together, you will check the F2B Visa bulletin to be ready to proceed with your application process as soon as possible.
Every U.S. Embassy or Consulate can set the cost for biometric services and medical examinations. The final amount of fees you will need to pay to proceed with your application may vary.
You will be asked to pay a fee for the following services and steps of your application:
- Petition form I-130;
- Form DS-260;
- USCIS Immigrant Fee (to be paid after you receive your visa);
- Medical and biometric fees.
Right now, it is faster to apply for an F2B visa than an F1 visa. While this is the case currently, this can change, and as such, it is always best to check the Department of State’s monthly visa bulletin for updates and progress on the different visa options available for the US.
If the USCIS denies your petition, they will send you an explanation of their decision. You will then be able to adjust your application and submit your request again. However, this may jeopardize your petition, and delay your F2B visa processing time.
Our lawyers are experienced in applying for Family Preference Visas and are ready to support your application.
Our services include:
- Liaising with you and your children;
- Checking the annual F2B Visa bulletin;
- Reviewing if your documents are adequate to support your application;
- Liaising with the NVC and the USCIS;
- Completing your petition and all your application forms.
If you are seeking legal support for your visa application, get in touch today on +1844 290 6312.