F2A – Spouses & Unmarried Children (Under 21) of LPRs
Home / F2A – Spouses & Unmarried Children (Under 21) of LPRs
Key Forms & Process
The process begins by filing Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with proof of your lawful permanent residence (green card copy) and proof of relationship (marriage certificate for spouse; birth certificate for child). After USCIS approval, the case moves to the National Visa Center (NVC). Unlike F2B (adult children of LPRs), F2A often has a visa immediately available. We then submit Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application) and Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support). Your family member attends an interview at the U.S. embassy in their home country. Once approved, they receive an F2A immigrant visa and enter as conditional (if married less than 2 years) or permanent residents.
What We Handle at ZubaidaLaw
Our legal advocates manage every step: filing the I-130, tracking the monthly Visa Bulletin, notarizing relationship documents (marriage certificates, birth certificates, affidavits), and preparing your family for the embassy interview. We also handle “follow-to-join” cases where you became an LPR after your family remained abroad. If your spouse receives a 2-year conditional green card (marriage under 2 years at entry), we later help file Form I-751 to remove conditions. For children approaching age 21, we calculate CSPA eligibility to prevent “aging out.”
Call us at 865-382-2900 to check if the F2A category is currently current for your country and start your family’s petition today.
It's a family-based, second-preference immigrant visa for spouses and unmarried children under 21 of lawful permanent residents (green card holders). Approximately 114,200 visas are available annually across F2A and F2B.
As of recent Visa Bulletins, F2A is often "current" for most countries (Mexico and Philippines may have short waits of a few months). This means no backlog – your family can apply immediately after I-130 approval.
IR1/CR1 is for spouses of U.S. citizens (no wait). F2A is for spouses of green card holders (historically had waits, but currently often current). If you naturalize to U.S. citizen during processing, your case upgrades to IR1/CR1 with faster processing.
The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) may freeze their age. We calculate CSPA age = (age at visa availability) – (pending I-130 time). If under 21, they still qualify as F2A.
Yes. Upon entry with an F2A visa, they receive a green card (2-year conditional if married under 2 years, 10-year if married over 2 years) and can work immediately.
I-130 (petition), DS-260 (visa application), I-864 (affidavit of support), plus civil documents (marriage certificate, birth certificates, police certificates, medical exam).
125% of Federal Poverty Guideline (approx. $25,550 for household of 2 in 2025). If you don't meet it, a joint sponsor (U.S. citizen or LPR) can file Form I-864 with you.
No. You must be already married to sponsor a spouse. For unmarried couples, your fiancé would need a K-1 visa, but that requires you to be a U.S. citizen (not LPR). We can advise on naturalization options.
Yes, using a tourist visa (B-2) or ESTA. However, they must prove non-immigrant intent (return ticket, job/home abroad) because F2A shows immigrant intent once the priority date is current.
Yes. We provide full notarization services for affidavits of bona fide marriage, translated foreign documents, and all supporting evidence for your F2A petition.
