F2A Visa: 2026 Guide for Spouses and Children Under 21

If your spouse or parent holds a U.S. Green Card and you want to join them in the U.S. as a permanent resident, the F2A visa is your pathway. Getting an F2A visa generally takes years, with backlogs forcing some applicants outside the United States to wait more than a decade.

What is the F2A visa category?

The F2A visa is an immigrant visa under the second-preference family category (F2) that allows a Green Card holder’s spouse and children under 21 to get Green Cards. There is an annual cap on how many F2A visas can be issued, so demand often exceeds supply and applicants experience long wait times.

Who is eligible for the F2A visa?

The F2A is available to the spouses and children under age 21 of lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders). An applicant will need to meet all the following requirements:

• The petitioner is a U.S. lawful permanent resident (not a citizen).
• The beneficiary is the petitioner’s legal spouse or an unmarried child under age 21.
• The marriage is legally valid and bona fide.
• The beneficiary is otherwise admissible to the U.S. (e.g., no serious criminal records).
• The petitioner meets income requirements.

Examples of who does and doesn’t qualify for an F2A

The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA)

The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) prevents children from aging out of the F2A category by locking in an earlier immigration age. CSPA subtracts the Form I-130 processing time from the child’s actual age when a visa becomes available (based on the Final Action Dates in the Visa Bulletin). If the result is under 21, the child stays eligible. They must seek status within one year of visa availability to benefit.

What is the difference between F2A and F2B?

The F2A visa is for spouses and children under 21, while the F2B visa is for unmarried adult children 21 and older. Both apply only to permanent resident petitioners. In general, F2A visas have shorter wait times and get a larger share of annual F2 visas.

How long does it take to get an F2A Green Card?

In total, most F2A applicants should expect to wait three to seven years. Form I-130 processing can take six to 18 months, but the longest wait is probably the two or more years it could take for your priority date to become current if you live outside the country. If you’re already in the U.S., the Visa Bulletin is current for F2A as of April 2026; USCIS is honoring the dates for filing chart. This is likely because USCIS cleared much of the F2A backlog in Fiscal Year 2025.

What is the F2A visa priority date right now?

For family-based categories, USCIS is currently honoring dates for filing for people who are inside the United States and are eligible to file for AOS. For those abroad, they must follow the final action dates chart.

Current F2A visa filing dates

Current F2A visa final action dates

Note: There is currently a pause on immigrant visa processing abroad for nationals from 75 countries. That means even if your priority date is current under the May Visa Bulletin, you may not be able to move forward with the process.

How to apply for the F2A visa, step-by-step

Applying for a Green Card through an F2A visa begins with Form I-130, filed by the Green Card holder (petitioner) with USCIS. They’ll also need to provide supporting documents to confirm they are a lawful permanent resident and that the beneficiary has an eligible and legitimate relationship to them.

Once Form I-130 is approved, the next step is to apply for a Green Card. The exact process depends on whether the beneficiary currently lives inside or outside of the United States.

Adjustment of Status for beneficiaries inside the U.S.

1. Wait for your priority date to become current in the Visa Bulletin, usually under the “Dates of Filing” chart.
2. File Form I-485 with USCIS. Also file Form I-765 (employment authorization while waiting) and Form I-131 (travel approval), if desired. The sponsor will need to submit Form I-864, Affidavit of Support.
3. Attend biometrics (fingerprints) and Green Card interview.
4. Receive Green Card decision, with physical card arriving in the mail weeks later.

Consular Processing for beneficiaries outside the U.S.:

1. Wait for your priority date to become current in the Visa Bulletin (“Final Action Dates” chart).
2. Complete Form DS-260 (visa application) and pay all visa fees through the NVC. The sponsor will need to submit Form I-864, Affidavit of Support.
3. Complete medical exam.
4. Attend a consular interview and get a Green Card decision.

Evidence and documents required for an F2A visa

Financial sponsorship requirements

Petitioners must show they have enough income to support the beneficiary who is seeking a visa, using Form I-864. They must have an income of at least 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for their household size. If they fall short, a joint sponsor or another member of their family may be able to help.

Potential documents used to prove income include IRS tax transcripts, tax returns, W-2 forms, and recent pay stubs.

How much does it cost to get an F2A visa?

Most applicants should budget for at least $2,200 to $3,000 if going through adjustment of status, or $1,200 to $2,000 for consular processing.

Additional fees could include the cost to obtain necessary documents and translations, as well as travel expenses to appointments or interviews. Working with an immigration attorney can make the process much more manageable, but it could also cost $4,000 or more.

Getting a Green Card from an F2A visa

You’ll receive lawful permanent residence upon U.S. entry (consular processing) or once your Form I-485 is approved (adjustment of status). However, there are two types of Green Card you may receive if you applied as the spouse of a permanent resident.

Spouses who have been married for two years or more at Green Card issuance will receive a standard Green Card. Spouses who are married for less than two years at Green Card issuance will receive a conditional 2-year Green Card.

A conditional Green Card provides the same privileges and rights, but you will need to file to remove conditions before it expires. The conditional Green Card exists to help USCIS prevent people from getting married purely for immigration benefits. So the process to remove conditions requires you to again show that you had a legitimate marriage.

Build your family’s immigration strategy with Manifest

Priority dates shift, documents expire, and a sponsor’s status can change. The family immigration attorneys at Manifest Law can help you to avoid unnecessary mistakes and make the Green Card application process as smooth as possible. We’ll create a plan based on your situation and immigration goals. Request a consultation to get started today.

F2A visa FAQs

How many F2A visas are available each year?

U.S. immigration law says applicants in the F2 category can receive 114,200 visas annually, plus any unused first preference numbers. Of those about 75% go to F2A visas, with the rest going to F2B visa applicants.

What happens when there are no available F2A visas?

When demand for F2A visas exceeds supply, which is often the case, immigration officials set a cutoff date for the last applicants considered and the category becomes unavailable until Oct. 1 (the first day of the federal fiscal year).

Your place in line is set by your priority date: the date USCIS received your Form I-130 petition. You can check which priority dates are current (meaning a visa is available for them) through the monthly Visa Bulletin. Applicants from certain countries will face longer waits since there are also country-specific visa caps each year.

How long does it take for an F2A to be approved?

Expect to wait between three to seven years (at least) from the time your sponsor files Form I-130 until you are approved for a Green Card. The biggest factor is how long it takes for an F2A visa to become available for applicants from your country. Individuals from Mexico and the Philippines typically wait the longest because of high demand.

What is the difference between F2 and F2A?

F2 is the broader family second-preference category for immigrant visas. An F2A visa is available only to spouses and unmarried children who qualify under the F2 category. An F2B visa covers unmarried adult children who are eligible under the F2 category.

How long is an F2A visa valid?

The immigrant visa stamp is valid for six months from issuance. Once you’re admitted to the U.S., your Green Card is valid for either two years or 10 years.

What happens if my sponsor becomes a U.S. citizen?

The petition automatically upgrades to Immediate Relative status, which has no annual cap, no backlog, and often shaves off years of waiting. It’s one of the most powerful strategic moves available to F2A families.

What happens if my child gets married while waiting?

A child’s marriage removes F2A eligibility immediately, no matter how old the child is. A married child has no available preference category until the petitioner becomes a naturalized citizen, at which point they may qualify under F3 (married children of U.S. citizens).