Immigrant Ally

Family Second Preference A (F2A)

Wait required

Quick Summary

  • Who: Spouse of lawful permanent resident, Unmarried children under 21 of lawful permanent resident
  • Wait time: Wait required (~24–36 months)
  • Total estimated time: 24–36 months

Description

If your family member in the U.S. is a green card holder (not a U.S. citizen), or if you are an adult child or sibling of a U.S. citizen, you fall into a "family preference" category. Unlike immediate relatives, these categories have annual limits on how many visas can be issued. This means you must WAIT for your priority date to become current before you can get a green card. Wait times range from 2 years to more than 20 years depending on your category and country of birth.

Who Qualifies

Who Can Apply

  • •The petitioner must be a U.S. citizen (for F1, F3, F4) or a lawful permanent resident (for F2A, F2B)
  • •The qualifying relationship must exist at the time of filing
  • •For F2A/F2B: the petitioner green card holder must maintain LPR status throughout the process
  • •The beneficiary must remain in the qualifying relationship (e.g., must remain unmarried for F1 and F2B)

Step-by-Step Process

1

Petitioner files Form I-130

petitioner

The U.S. citizen or green card holder files I-130 to establish the family relationship. This locks in your priority date (the date of filing). USCIS will send a receipt notice confirming the priority date.

Form I-130$675
2

USCIS approves I-130 and notifies petitioner

USCIS

USCIS reviews the petition and approves or denies it. Approval means the relationship is recognized. This does NOT mean the beneficiary can get a green card yet — they must still wait for their priority date to become current.

3

Wait for priority date to become current

Applicant

Check the State Department's Visa Bulletin each month at travel.state.gov. When your country's priority date in your category is "current" or "final action date" reaches your priority date, you can move to the next step. This is the waiting period — it can range from 2 to 20+ years.

4a

File I-485 (if inside the United States)

Applicant

When your priority date is current AND you are inside the U.S. on a valid status, you can file Form I-485 to adjust status. File with I-765 (work permit), I-131 (travel document), I-864 (affidavit of support), and I-693 (medical exam).

$1,440
4b

Complete NVC processing (if outside the U.S.)

applicant_and_nvc

If you are outside the U.S., when your priority date becomes current, NVC will contact the petitioner with instructions to submit documents and pay the immigrant visa fee ($325). Then NVC schedules a consular interview at the U.S. embassy in your country.

5

Attend biometrics appointment (for adjustment only)

Applicant

USCIS will mail a biometrics notice. Attend on the scheduled date.

6

Attend USCIS interview or consular interview

Applicant

Attend the interview at your local USCIS office (if inside the U.S.) or at the U.S. consulate in your country (if outside). Bring originals and copies of all documents.

7

Receive green card (or immigrant visa to enter U.S.)

uscis_or_consulate

If approved: - Adjustment of status: Green card mailed within 2–4 weeks of approval. - Consular processing: Passport stamped with immigrant visa. Enter the U.S. before the visa expires. Green card mailed within 30–60 days of entry.

Application Checklist

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Letter Templates

Tips to Speed Up and Prevent Denial

🟢 Speed

  • File the I-130 immediately — do not wait. The day USCIS receives your petition is your priority date. Even if you know the wait is 10 years, filing today gives you a 10-year head start over filing next year.
  • If you are a green card holder (LPR) petitioning for your spouse or children: become a U.S. citizen as soon as you are eligible (typically 5 years as an LPR, or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen). Becoming a citizen upgrades F2A to Immediate Relative, eliminating the wait entirely.

🔴 Avoid Denial

  • For F1 and F2B (unmarried children): if the beneficiary gets married while the petition is pending, the F1 or F2B petition is automatically invalidated. Marriage bars these categories. If marriage happens, the case must be changed to F3 (if the petitioner is a U.S. citizen) and a new I-130 must be filed — with a new (later) priority date and a longer wait.

🔵 Quality

  • Keep your contact information — especially your mailing address — updated with USCIS for the ENTIRE waiting period. If your priority date becomes current and USCIS or NVC sends you a letter that goes to an old address, you may miss the window to file and have to wait for the next available date.
  • Some documents expire. Police clearance certificates are typically valid for 12–15 months. Medical exams (Form I-693) are valid for 2 years. If your wait is long, you may need to redo these documents shortly before your priority date becomes current. Track expiration dates and plan ahead.
  • Check the Visa Bulletin every month (travel.state.gov). Priority dates do not always move forward — they can move backward or stay the same. Being informed helps you plan and make sure you are ready to act as soon as your date is current.