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F2B Visa Explained

F2B Visa Explained

What is the F2B visa?

The F2B visa, along with the F2A, F3, and F4 visas, is a Family Based Green Card that is part of the US Family Preference visa category. Unmarried adult offspring of a U.S. Green Card holder are eligible for the F2B visa.

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F stands for Family Preference Visa. Spouses, minors, and adult children of US LPRs are eligible for the F2 visa category. There are two alternatives for the F2 visa:

  • The F2A visa is for LPRs' wives and minor children.

  • F2B visa — for unmarried offspring of LPRs above the age of 21.

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What are family preference visas?

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People with family members who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents are eligible for family preference visas. Depending on your relationship with a US citizen, there are various types of family preference visas.
 

  • F1 Visa: Unmarried children of US citizens and their children are eligible for the F1 or family first priority visa.

  • F2 Visa: Spouses, minor children, and unmarried children of lawful permanent residents of the United States are eligible for the F2 visa.

  • F3 Visa: Married children of US citizens and their children are eligible for the F3 family third priority visa.

  • F4 Visa: Siblings of US citizens, as well as their spouses and unmarried children, are eligible for the F4 visa.

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F2 visas are further broken down into two types:

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F2A Visa; Spouses and minor children of U.S. lawful permanent residents are eligible for F2a visas.

F2B Visa: Unmarried offspring of lawful permanent residents over the age of 21 can apply for F2b visas.

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Who can apply for an F2B visa?

There are no long lists of credentials that you must possess in order to obtain this visa. However, both the visa applicant and the petitioner must adhere to specific requirements in order to be considered qualified. The following are the conditions that the candidate must meet:
 

1. You must be the lawful child of a legal permanent resident of the United States, and you must be able to verify this with proper documentation (i.e. adoption documents or birth certificates).
2. You must be at least 21 years old to participate.
3. You must be single.

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As a lawful permanent resident, you must additionally comply with the following requirements:
 

1. You are the parent of the adult child for whom you are requesting and can prove it with suitable paperwork.
2. You must be a lawful permanent resident of the United States at the very least.
3. You must reside in the United States of America.
4. As long as these requirements are completed, there is no reason why you should not be granted an F2B visa.

What are the required documents for the F2B visa application?

  1. A passport that is valid for at least six months after your planned entry into the United States.

  2. Original form of Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, filled out and signed. The LPR or US citizen petitioner – that is, the child's parent – must sign this form.

  3. The DS-260 form confirmation page.

  4. A list of immunizations, as well as your medical assessment.

  5. Two pictures that meet the photo standards for the visa.

  6. Any prospective police certifications, as well as your criminal record.

  7. You must also submit your military records if you served in the military.

  8. If you've been married before, you'll need to bring supporting documents (such as divorce or death certificates) to show that your prior marriage has ended.

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6. Civil records;

  • Adoption certificate or birth certificate

  • Any court documents

  • Marriage certificate certified copy

  • If there are any military records,

  • A photocopy of their passport's biographic information page

  • Police certification for each nation they have visited

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Any mandatory immunizations or medical records will be communicated to you by the National Visa Center. The medical checkup and vaccinations must be completed by a licensed doctor. The US Department of State's website has a list of recommended vaccines.

Is there an application cap for F2B visas?

The applicant must wait for their date to be current before proceeding to step two. This is because the number of F2B visas is limited.

What is the application process for an F2B visa?

In order to apply for family preference, the permanent resident must first file a petition. Following acceptance, their family members may apply for a visa at the US consulate or embassy in their native country.

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1: Submitting a petition
The LPR begins the application process by filing Form I-130 with the US Department of Homeland Security and paying the required fee (DHS). You can also use Form G-1450 to pay with a credit card.

2: The petition is being looked into.
The petition is processed after it is submitted, which can take several months. The petitioner is subsequently notified by the USCIS whether or not their petition was granted.

If your petition is denied, you will be told of the reason for the rejection. The petition is sent to the National Visa Center if it is approved (NVC).

3. Obtaining a case number
The permission documentation will be sent to you, your spouse, and your children by the NVC. The petition's case number, directions for the following steps, fees, and payment instructions are all included in the paperwork.

Your spouse and children may apply for an F2B visa after the NVC completes the petition and sends its approval.

4: Payment of fees and submission of documents
Your spouse and children must pay the application fees at the US consulate or embassy in their home country. Following payment, they will submit the following:

The DS-260 form is completed online. Your spouse and children must provide their NVC-assigned case number to link their application to the authorized petition in order to access the form. They'll also have to fill out Form DS-261 (unless they have an attorney).
 

It's worth noting that the affidavit of support specifies that you'll keep sponsoring your spouse and children until they've worked for 40 quarters in the United States or become citizens. This usually takes ten years.


5. To you must attend a visa interview at a US consulate or embassy in their native country.

The NVC will schedule an interview, if it is satisfied with the supplied documentation. They will be quizzed about their background during the interview.

6. Approval of visa
You will be granted F4 visas at the discretion of a consular or embassy official.

The consulate or embassy official stamps their passports once they have been approved. They'll also get a sealed packet of documents that they must not open. This envelope can only be opened by a US immigration officer as they enter the nation.

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What happens when an F2B visa application is denied?

If a visa applicant is denied based on a ground of inadmissibility, it may be possible to secure a waiver of inadmissibility. Grounds of inadmissibility are

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  • Medical and health reasons

  • Convictions for crimes

  • Concerns about national securityPossibility of becoming a public charge

  • Misrepresentation or fraud

  • Removals in the past or unauthorized presence

  • Other considerations

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​The reason for someone's denial will determine whether they are eligible for a waiver. For more legal advice, contact a US immigration attorney.

How much are the F2B visa application fees?

With the F2B visa, you can expect a variety of fees, some of which are dependant on the country you are in. Some fees are fixed, while others are determined by your specific circumstances. Here's what you should budget for:

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  • Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130 ($535)

  • Vaccination fee Form DS-260 processing charge Medical exam fees

  • Fees for any documents that need to be translated USCIS immigrant fee (paid after you acquire your visa and before you enter the US)

How long is the F2a visa application process?

Unfortunately, there is no specific period of time that can be utilized to estimate how long the F2B visa will take to process. Because visas are limited, many people end up waiting for two or more years, with others waiting for up to seven years. As a result, you must only wait until your date is current before beginning the application procedure.

When a permanent resident petitioner becomes a naturalized citizen, what happens?

In some cases, a long term permanent resident petitioning on behalf of their spouse and children might become a naturalized U.S. citizen during the process.

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If this occurs in your case, your family should contact USCIS and the embassy in their country. They are now eligible for an immediate relative visa, which doesn’t have a cap on the number of applications accepted each year. This may accelerate the processing time for your visa.

What else should I prepare for the F2a visa application process?

While your spouse awaits word on their visa application, they can start planning their new life in the United States. Did you realize, for example, that their credit history does not instantly transfer to the United States after they immigrate? That means that no record of the F2a visa applicant's previous financial history will be kept by US companies or financial institutions. As a result, obtaining loans, securing an apartment lease, mobile phone companies, and other service providers might be extremely tough.

Conclusion

I hope this information was useful. Complex immigration processing can be incredibly complicated and stressful for everyone. Before filing this application, you should seek legal advice from an experienced attorney.

Immigrationservice.com can assist you and will be there for you every step of the journey. Please contact us via phone or email.

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