F2B – Unmarried Sons/Daughters (21+) of LPRs
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At ZubaidaLaw, we help lawful permanent residents (green card holders) sponsor their unmarried sons or daughters who are 21 years or older through the F2B (Family Second Preference – B) visa. Unlike F2A (spouses/minor children), the F2B category has significant annual caps and longer backlogs, with waits ranging from 6 to 20+ years depending on the country of birth. However, once approved, your adult child receives a green card and can live, work, and study permanently in the U.S. Critical rule: if they marry before receiving the green card, they lose F2B eligibility entirely (there is no category for married children 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 your child’s birth certificate showing the parent-child relationship. After USCIS approval, the case waits at the National Visa Center (NVC) until a visa number becomes available based on the Priority Date (the date USCIS received your I-130). This wait can be many years. Once the date is current in the monthly Visa Bulletin, we submit Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application) and Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support). Your adult child then attends an interview at the U.S. embassy. Upon approval, they receive an F2B immigrant visa and enter as a lawful permanent resident.
What We Handle at ZubaidaLaw
Our legal advocates manage the entire multi-year journey: filing the I-130 to secure the earliest possible priority date, tracking the Visa Bulletin monthly, notarizing relationship documents (birth certificates, affidavits, translations), and advising your child to remain unmarried until the green card is in hand. If you naturalize to U.S. citizenship during the wait, your child’s case automatically upgrades from F2B to F1 (Unmarried Son/Daughter of U.S. Citizen), which often has a shorter wait. We handle that upgrade seamlessly. If your child is already in the U.S. on a student or work visa, we explore Adjustment of Status when their priority date becomes current.
Call us at 865-382-2900 to check your child’s priority date, estimate their F2B wait time based on their country of birth, and start the petition today.
It's a family-based, second-preference immigrant visa for unmarried sons and daughters (age 21 or older) of lawful permanent residents. Approximately 114,200 visas are shared annually between F2A and F2B.
It depends on your child's country of birth (as of 2025 estimates):
Rest of world: 6–8 years
Mexico: 18–22 years
Philippines: 10–14 years
India: 8–12 years
We track the monthly Visa Bulletin for exact cutoff dates.
They lose F2B eligibility permanently. Unlike U.S. citizens (who have F3 for married children), LPRs have no category for married children. They would need you to naturalize first, then file under F3 (which also has long waits). We strongly advise waiting until after receiving the green card to marry.
Yes. The unmarried minor children (under 21) of your F2B beneficiary may qualify as derivatives and receive visas at the same time. Spouses do NOT qualify.
Your child's case automatically upgrades from F2B to F1 (Unmarried Son/Daughter of U.S. Citizen). F1 often has a shorter wait than F2B. We handle the upgrade with USCIS at no extra charge.
I-130 (petition), DS-260 (visa application), I-864 (affidavit of support), plus civil documents (child's birth certificate, police certificates, medical exam, passport).
The date USCIS receives your I-130. Your child's place in line is determined by this date. Only when the Visa Bulletin shows a cutoff date later than your priority date can they apply for the visa.
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.
Yes, using a tourist visa (B-2) or ESTA. However, they must prove strong non-immigrant intent (return ticket, job, home abroad) because having a pending I-130 shows immigrant intent. We provide guidance letters to help with border interviews.
Yes. We provide document notarization, certified translations of foreign birth certificates, and full legal representation throughout the multi-year F2B process.
