F2B Visa: Eligibility and Wait Times for Unmarried Adult Children

You have a Green Card. Now your unmarried adult child wants to build their life in the U.S. The F2B visa is their legal pathway to permanent residency. It sits in the second family preference Green Card category, which Congress created for lawful permanent residents sponsoring adult unmarried children aged 21 and older. But there is a years-long line. The number of F2B visas is capped each year, and demand routinely outpaces supply.

What is the F2B visa, and who is it for?

The F2B is a family-based immigrant visa. It is available for unmarried children, age 21 and older, of lawful permanent residents (current Green Card holders). Approval leads to lawful permanent resident status for the beneficiary, meaning they get a Green Card of their own.

The F2 category has two parts. F2A covers spouses and minor children of Green Card holders. F2B covers unmarried children 21 and older and has much longer wait times for a visa.

The F2B also differs from the F1 category, which is available to the adult unmarried children of U.S. citizens, and is a higher-priority group. If a Green Card holder naturalizes and becomes a citizen while an F2B petition is pending, the case may be eligible to move into the F1 category.

F2B visa eligibility requirements

Two parties must qualify to be eligible for an F2B: the petitioner and the beneficiary.

The petitioner is the Green Card holder who is filing on behalf of their child. To qualify, they must:

• Hold valid lawful permanent resident status.
• Live in the United States.
• Be the legal parent of the person they’re sponsoring.

The beneficiary is the adult child seeking a Green Card. To qualify under F2B, they must:

• Be age 21 or older.
• Be unmarried at the time of filing and throughout the entire process.
• Be the biological child, adopted child, or stepchild of the petitioner.

The second condition is especially important. If a beneficiary marries before immigrating to the United States or adjusting status, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will deny or revoke the petition. No visa category under U.S. immigration law allows the married children of lawful permanent residents to get Green Cards through their parents.

How long does it take to get an F2B Green Card?

The day USCIS receives the I-130 petition becomes your priority date. It marks your place in the line for a visa. Congress caps the number of F2B visas issued each year, and when demand exceeds supply (as it routinely does) a queue forms.

The Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin each month to show the current cutoff dates for each visa category, broken down by country of birth. When your priority date falls before the published cutoff (it becomes “current”), you can proceed to the next step. Until then, you have to wait.

Wait times vary by country, but applicants born in Mexico and the Philippines face the longest waits due to high demand.

Your wait depends on how many F2B visas become available in a given month relative to how many applicants are waiting. When demand is high, available visas get used quickly and cutoff dates move slowly. In some months, the dates can even move backwards. This is called retrogression.

It’s important to monitor the Visa Bulletin since cutoff dates can shift every month, but below are estimated wait times for F2B Green Cards.

Note that USCIS may wait years to process your I-130, knowing that a visa won’t be available for you immediately. The result is that your wait time for an I-130 decision and your wait for a current priority date can overlap.

What is the F2B 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 F2B visa filing dates

Current F2B 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 the F2B visa process works, step by step

The F2B process moves through five stages.

1. File Form I-130 with USCIS

The petitioning parent starts by filing Form I-130. This form allows them to submit documentation showing that there is a qualifying relationship between the parent and child. USCIS will review the petition and issue a decision, which usually takes years, sometimes 10 or more.

2. Case transfers to the National Visa Center

Once USCIS approves the I-130, the case moves to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC assigns a case number and records the priority date (the date USCIS originally received the petition). That date determines the applicant’s place in line for a visa.

3. Monitor the Visa Bulletin

The applicant must wait to file the formal Green Card application until their priority date is current, meaning their spot in line for a visa has come up. Each month, the Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin, which displays the current priority dates for each Green Card category.

Unfortunately, F2B applicants may wait years for a current priority date, and there’s no way to speed up this stage of the process. But it is important to maintain F2B eligibility, like by remaining unmarried.

4. Submit the DS-260 and supporting documents

When the priority date approaches, the NVC collects necessary documents for the full Green Card application:

• Form DS-260 (immigrant visa application) if the applicant lives abroad
• Form I-485 (adjustment of status) if the applicant lives in the U.S.
• Affidavit of Support (Form I-864)
• Civil documents such as birth certificates and police clearances

5. Interview and medical exam

At this stage, the path splits based on where the beneficiary lives.

Applicants outside the U.S. complete consular processing: an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country, along with a required medical exam conducted by an approved physician.

Applicants already inside the U.S. complete adjustment of status: an interview at a USCIS office, as well as a medical exam and biometrics appointment (fingerprints and photos).

How much does an F2B visa cost?

Applying for the F2B visa involves fees at several stages:

• Form I-130 petition: $625 online, $675 on paper
• DS-260 immigrant visa application processing fee: $325
• Medical exam: Typically $200 to $500 (varies by country and physician)
• USCIS immigrant fee: $235 (paid after visa approval, before travel)

These figures reflect the current USCIS fee schedule. Fees are subject to change. Verify all amounts at the USCIS and State Department websites before filing. Submitting the wrong fee amount could result in delays or rejection.

Common F2B visa issues and what to watch for

Some pitfalls come up often in F2B cases. Avoid these to prevent unnecessary delays or even a denial.

• Marriage before the visa is issued: If the beneficiary marries at any point before immigrating or adjusting status, USCIS will deny or revoke the petition.
• The shifting Visa Bulletin window: The Visa Bulletin changes every month. Cutoff dates can advance, stall, or move backward. Track it regularly so you’re prepared to act as soon as your date becomes current.
• Incomplete Affidavit of Support: Form I-864 requires specific income documentation. Errors or missing evidence can lead to a Request for Evidence, adding months of delay.
• Petitioner naturalization: If the Green Card holder becomes a U.S. citizen while the case is pending, the beneficiary may be able to file a petition for a more advantageous visa, like the F-1. Remaining in the F2B category could add years of waiting. An immigration attorney can help evaluate whether that path makes sense for your situation.

Getting the F2B visa process right

The F2B process is long. The rules are specific. A misstep can also set your case back significantly. For families navigating this process, preparation matters. The immigration attorneys at Manifest Law can help guide you through each stage of the F2B process.

👉 Request a consultation today to take the next step toward getting a Green Card.

FAQs about F2B Green Cards

Will F2B move forward in 2026?

The April 2026 Visa Bulletin advanced the F2B category by roughly four months for most countries, including China, India, and the rest of the world category. Future advances in current priority dates aren’t guaranteed, though.

Can my family come with me on an F2B?

Unmarried minor children of the F2B beneficiary may be included as derivative beneficiaries on the same petition and can immigrate with the principal applicant. A spouse can’t be included since the F2B category is limited to unmarried applicants.

How long is the wait for an F2B visa?

Wait times vary significantly by country of birth and shift every month based on visa availability. For applicants from countries such as Mexico and the Philippines, existing backlogs can translate to wait times exceeding 10 years.

What’s the difference between F2A and F2B visas?

F2A covers spouses and unmarried children under 21. F2B covers unmarried children who are 21 or older. Wait times are often years longer under F2B.