F2B Visa — Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 or Older) of Lawful Permanent Residents

The F2B Family Preference Visa allows unmarried sons and daughters (aged 21 or older) of lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) to immigrate to the United States and obtain permanent residency. This visa supports family reunification by enabling parents with Green Cards to bring their adult children to live in the U.S.

Key Features of the F2B Visa:

• Eligibility: Applicants must be unmarried sons or daughters (21 years or older) of lawful permanent residents. Married children do not qualify under this category and would need to apply under the F3 or F1 category if their parent later becomes a U.S. citizen.
• Petition Process (Form I-130): The permanent resident parent must file Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once approved, the petition is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing.
• Priority Date: The priority date is established when USCIS receives the I-130 petition. F2B visas are subject to numerical limits, and applicants must wait until their priority date becomes current according to the Visa Bulletin published monthly by the U.S. Department of State.
• Waiting Period: Due to high demand and limited visa numbers, F2B applicants often face waiting periods of several years before their priority date becomes current and they can proceed to the next stage of the immigration process.
• Consular Processing: When the priority date becomes current, applicants living outside the U.S. apply for an immigrant visa through a U.S. embassy or consulate by completing Form DS-260 and attending an interview.
• Adjustment of Status (AOS): Applicants lawfully residing in the U.S. may be eligible to adjust their status to permanent resident by filing Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) once their priority date is current.
• Derivative Beneficiaries: The spouse and unmarried children (under 21) of the principal F2B applicant may accompany or follow to join them in the U.S. as derivative beneficiaries.
• Age-Out Protection (CSPA): If a child under 21 turns 21 before the F2B visa becomes available, the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) may protect their eligibility, allowing them to remain classified under the same petition category.
• Permanent Residency: Once admitted to the U.S. or approved for adjustment of status, F2B visa holders become lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) with the right to live, work, and study in the country.
• Path to Citizenship: After maintaining permanent residency for five years, F2B visa holders may apply for U.S. citizenship through the naturalization process.

The F2B visa category helps families of permanent residents remain connected, even when separated by international borders. At Visa2Migrate, our goal is to help families understand the process, monitor their priority dates, and stay informed throughout their journey to U.S. residency.