A Family Preference visa is issued for specific family relationships with a US citizen or a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR).
The F-2 visa is a Family Preference visa intended for spouses, minor children, and adult children of lawful permanent residents.
F-2 visas have two categories:
- F2A visa
- F2B visa
The number of Family Preference visas issued in a year is limited due to a cap on the number of visas issued. Thus, each category receives a set number of visas per year.
In this article, we’ll talk about the F2B visa, applying for it, and the requirements you need to do so.
What is an F2B Visa?
The F2B visa is a Family Preference visa granted to unmarried children of Green Card holders in the United States.
It allows an adult child to live, study, and work in the US permanently and legally.
F2B Visa Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the F2B visa, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
- The applicant must be the child of a US Lawful Permanent Resident and prove it through birth certificates or adoption documents.
- The applicant must be over 21 years old.
- The applicant must be unmarried.
The petitioner must also fulfill these criteria:
- The petitioner must be the parent of the person petitioned for and prove it through birth certificates or adoption documents.
- The petitioner must be a US LPR.
- The petitioner must be living in the US and have a verified address inside the country.
How to Apply for the F2B visa?
The US Lawful Permanent Resident must file the petition in the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The application process cannot begin without the approval of USCIS.
If the petition is approved, the adult child must apply to a US Embassy or Consulate in their home country.
Filing The Petition
The US LPR must file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative to USCIS. The LPR is required to pay a filing fee set by USCIS. The petition is forwarded through USCIS to the Department of Homeland Security.
The USCIS will send the decision to the LPR. If the petition is denied, they will state the reason for their decision. The LPR may revise their application and resubmit the petition.
If the petition is approved, the LPR will be notified, and the documents will be forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing.
The NVC will review the application and send the applicant (adult child) a package that includes forms, fee requirements, and instructions for the next process. It will also include the case number and invoice ID number.
Since F2B visas are limited, the applicant must wait for their priority date to be current before proceeding. If the cap for this year is reached, the F2B applicant will have to wait until the next batch of F2B visas is released.
NVC will notify the applicant when their date is current, at which point they can begin applying for the visa.
F2B Visa Processes
When the priority date is current, the adult child will be able to follow the NVC instructions step by step to ensure that the application is completed and accepted by the US Embassy. NVC will forward the documents to the Embassy so that they can review the information.
Below are the processes the applicant to accomplish to complete the F2B visa application:
File Form DS-260
All applicants for immigrant visas must submit Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Electronic Application, online.
Enter the NVC case number and invoice ID number to gain access. Fill in the required sections and submit them.
The applicant will receive a confirmation page and number, which must be submitted to NVC as part of the documents file.
Complete Medical Examination and Vaccination
Medical examination and taking the necessary vaccines are mandatory for US immigrants.
The NVC will send a list of the check-ups and vaccines that must be completed.
Once accomplished, the applicant must send the medical documents to the NVC.
Complete The Required Documents
The applicant must send the following supporting documents proving eligibility for the F2B visa to NVC:
- Valid passport for more than six months after the planned entry into the US
- A signed Form I-864, Affidavit of Support from the US petitioner or LPR
- Form DS-260 confirmation page
- Medical examination and vaccination documents
- Two photographs per the US Visa photo requirements
- Valid birth certificate or adoption certificate
- Court and criminal records and police certificate
- Divorce or death certificates, if previously married, to prove that the marriage was officially terminated
- Military records, if the applicant served in the military
Attend Interview
Consulate interviews are the vital last stages of the visa application for F2B visas.
The interview will happen in the applicant’s country of residence. An official from the Embassy will conduct the interview and evaluate the F2B visa application.
Receive NVC Packet and Travel to the US
If the visa is approved, the US Embassy will stamp it on the applicant’s passport.
The Embassy will also provide a sealed packet that the applicant is not permitted to open under any circumstances. The applicant must bring this packet when they travel to the United States and have it opened by a US immigration official.
