F2A Visa: Spouse and Kids of Legal Permanent Residents of the United States

If you want to bring your spouse or child to the United States, the F2A visa is a great option. However, the visa application process can be daunting, and it's essential to understand the requirements and procedures involved. Whether you're a first-time applicant or have already started the process, this guide will provide valuable tips and strategies for a successful F2A visa application. From gathering the necessary documents to preparing for the interview, we'll cover everything you need to know to navigate the F2A visa process confidently. With the proper preparation and guidance, you can increase your chances of a successful outcome and reuniting with your loved ones in the United States. So, let's dive in and explore the F2A visa application process together!

US IMMIGRATION Mar 16, 2023 1 2403 Add to Reading List

F2A Visa: Spouse and Kids of Legal Permanent Residents of the United States

Navigating the F2A visa process can be a daunting task for anyone. If you hope to join your spouse or parent in the United States, you must carefully prepare and submit your application to ensure timely and smooth sailing. Fortunately, with the right tips and strategies, you can increase your chances of success and make the process as smooth as possible. This article will explore everything you need about the F2A visa process, from eligibility requirements to documentation and interview preparation. Whether you're a first-time applicant or looking to renew your visa, we've covered you with expert advice and insider tips. So, let's dive in and learn how to confidently and easily navigate the F2A visa process!

Within the Family Preference visa category, there are numerous types of visas by the letter F. One is the F2 visa, Available to spouses, minor children, and adult offspring of LPRs in other nations. There are two types of Second Preference Family visas: Within the Family Preference visa category, there are numerous types of tickets y the letter F. One is the F2 visa, available to spouses, minor children, and adult offspring of LPRs in other nations. There are two types of Second Preference Family visas:

F2A visa for spouses and minor children of LPRs
F2B visa for unmarried children over 21 years old of LPRs

The Family Preference visas have a limitation on their number. These visas have an allocated amount of 114,200 visas per year. This cap of visas is allocate given way to two categories:

F2A visa gets at least 79,940 visas, or 70% of the total number of visas
F-2B visa gets 34,260 visas or less than 30% of the total

This article will go through the F2A visa, what it is, its requirements, the application process, and other relevant details.

What Is the F2A Visa?

The F2A visa is a US immigration visa for Green Card holders' spouses or children. This visa is intended to allow US Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) to bring specified family members to the US permanently.

Because the F2A visa is limited in quantity, there is a significant demand for them, and waiting periods are extremely long. But, once they are obtained, the LPRs' family members will become permanent residents of the US, allowing them to live, work, and study in the country. The F2A visa is a US immigration visa for Green Card holders' spouses or children. This visa is intended to allow US Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) to bring specified family members to the US permanently.

Who Can Obtain the F2A Visa?

To be able to apply for an F2A visa, you must fulfill the following conditions:

The children must be under 21 years old.
The children must be unmarried.
Be able to prove your relationship with the sponsor in the USA.

In addition to the eligibility requirements that family members must meet to obtain an F2A visa, there are additional requirements that must be met by the lawful permanent resident filing the petition on behalf of their family members. These requirements include the following, among others:

The LPR must be at least 18 years old so that they can sign various documents and consent to conditions
The LPR must live in the US and have a registered address with the authorities within the US.

How to Apply for the F2A Visa?

The F2A application process is divided into two parts:

The US Lawful Permanent Resident petitions for their spouse or minor children to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
When the petition is approved, the spouse or child must apply to a US Embassy or Consulate in their home country

The application must begin in the US through the petition and by the LPR. If the spouse or child tries to apply for their F2A visa without an approved requisition, they will not be considered.

submitting a petition

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative to USCIS, must be submitted by the US LPR. The petition is sent to USCIS, which includes the Department of Homeland Security. The LPR is required to pay a fee, which USCIS determines.

When USCIS has completed the petition, it notifies the petitioner whether it has been approved or denied. If the petition is rejected, a justification will be provided so the LPR can fix any issues and resubmit. The paperwork will subsequently be delivered to the National Visa Center (NVC) for additional processing if the petition is granted.

The NVC will send the approval documents to the petitioner and the applicant (spouse or child) with a case, an invoice identification number, and instructions on what to do next. The documents will also contain all the information about what fees to pay and how to pay them.

Since there is a cap for the F2A visa, the applicant can only apply from their home countries if the date is current. NVC considers the number of petitions for each year, and if your petition exceeds the limit of up to 80,000 visas, your application will be processed next year.

Obtaining an F2A visa

The NVC will tell you to begin the F2A visa application procedure if your date is current. The spouse or kid must apply for the visa through their home country's US Embassy or Consulate. The petitioner is not required to submit any documentation to USCIS during this stage of the application procedure.

File Form DS-260

Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Electronic Application, is the form all immigrant visa applicants must submit. It is done online and will inquire about your personal and background information, as well as are immigrating to the US. It will also ask you to write your NVC case and invoice ID numbers. So, it would be best for you to submit the appropriate sections if you don't mind. After submission, you will receive a confirmation number page which you must submit to NVC as part of your documents file.

Vaccination and complete medical checkup

All immigrants to the United States must undergo a medical checkup and get immunizations. You will be given a package of documentation outlining the necessary check-ups and vaccines. You must finish your examination with a qualified doctor, who will sign your documentation and certify that you have had all required vaccines.

The F2A visa documentation file with

Every supporting material must be in your docs file. It would be best to persuade the NVC, US Embassy, or Consulate that you are qualified for the F2A visa and meet all the conditions.

Visit the interview

The NVC will arrange your visa interview after reviewing your application materials and confirming that you meet all requirements. The US Embassy or Consulate where you are applying will host the discussion. Your eligibility for an immigrant F2A visa will be decided once the interviewer has probed into your past.
Get the NVC package and depart for the US.

If the US Embassy grants your visa, you will soon settle permanently in the US. The Embassy will also offer you a sealed bundle of paperwork together with your passport when they stamp it with a visa. This package must remain sealed at all times. You must bring it when you visit the US, and an immigration officer will open it. You'll need to meet the abler in the US successfully.

How Much Does the F2A Visa Cost?

There are various fees that the petitioner and the applicant must pay throughout the application process for the F2A visa. The amounts vary and are set by USCIS, the Department of Homeland Security, and the individual US Embassy or Consulate where you apply. The main categories of fees that must be paid are as follows:

Form I-130 filing fee
Processing fee for the Form DS-260
Medical examination and vaccination fees
Fees to get and translate all the supporting documents
USCIS Immigrant Fee, which you must pay after you receive your visa and before you travel to the US. USCIS will not issue you a Green Card without you paying this fee.

What Is the F2A Visa Processing Time?

The F2A visa has a variable processing period. If your petition is authorized, your date must become current before you may begin the application process. The number of applications before you will determine how quickly the NVC processes your visa application. This means the processing period is relatively lengthy because your date often takes a year or more to become current.

What if the LPR who filed the petition became a US citizen while the F2A visa was being processed?

The LPR may get US citizenship because the F2A processing duration is lengthy. As a result, the husband and kids are eligible for the Immediate Relative (IR) visa, a different kind of visa. This visa has no cap, so application processing is substantially quicker.