F3 Visa — Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

The F3 Family Preference Visa allows married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens to immigrate to the United States and obtain lawful permanent residency (Green Card). This visa category promotes family reunification by enabling U.S. citizens to bring their adult, married children and their immediate families to live permanently in the U.S.

Key Features of the F3 Visa:

• Eligibility: The F3 visa is available to married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. The petitioner must be a U.S. citizen aged 21 or older. The marital status of the beneficiary must be legally recognized at the time of filing and throughout the process.
• Petition Process (Form I-130): The U.S. citizen parent must file Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once approved, the petition is forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC) for visa pre-processing.
• Priority Date: The priority date is the date USCIS receives the I-130 petition. F3 visas are subject to annual quotas and processing depends on the priority date becoming current in the Visa Bulletin published monthly by the U.S. Department of State.
• Waiting Period: Due to high demand and limited visa numbers, F3 visa applicants often experience long waiting times before their priority date becomes current. Monitoring the Visa Bulletin is crucial to track eligibility for the next processing steps.
• Consular Processing: Once the priority date becomes current, beneficiaries living abroad complete Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application) and attend an interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country. Supporting documents such as marriage certificates, birth certificates, and financial affidavits (Form I-864) must be provided.
• Adjustment of Status (AOS): If the beneficiary is already in the U.S. under a lawful visa, they may apply for Adjustment of Status by filing Form I-485 to become a permanent resident without leaving the country.
• Derivative Beneficiaries: The spouse and unmarried children (under 21 years old) of the F3 visa applicant are eligible to accompany or follow to join the principal applicant as derivative beneficiaries.
• Permanent Residency: Upon approval and entry to the United States, F3 visa holders and their families receive lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and are issued Green Cards.
• Work and Education Rights: Green Card holders can legally live, work, and study anywhere in the United States and enjoy the same benefits as other permanent residents.
• Path to Citizenship: After five years of continuous permanent residence, F3 visa holders may apply for U.S. citizenship through the naturalization process.

The F3 visa offers families the opportunity to reunite and establish a stable life in the United States. At Visa2Migrate, we emphasize staying informed, maintaining accurate documentation, and regularly checking priority date updates to ensure a smooth immigration process.