IR-2 Visa: A 2026 Guide for Children of U.S. Citizens

If you’re a United States citizen but your children are not, including stepchildren and adopted children, the IR-2 visa may be an option for them to obtain Green Cards. The IR-2 is a family-based immigrant visa that allows the child (under age 21) of a U.S. citizen to live in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident. It is in the Immediate Relative (IR) visa category, so there are no annual caps, and it offers a direct path to a Green Card without long visa bulletin backlogs.

What is the IR-2 visa?

The IR-2 is an immigrant visa that allows the unmarried children of a U.S. citizen to become lawful permanent residents. Biological, adopted, and stepchildren can all qualify, but they must be under the age of 21.

IR-2 visas fall under family-based immigration and are classified as immediate relative visas, meaning they are not subject to annual caps or preference visa limits.

Once approved, the child can enter the United States as a permanent resident. They will receive a permanent resident card (Green Card) after arrival.

Who is eligible for an IR-2 visa?

To qualify for an IR-2 visa, all of the following must apply:

• The petitioner is a U.S. citizen.
• The beneficiary is the unmarried child of the petitioning U.S. citizen.
• The child is under 21 years of age.
• A valid parent-child relationship exists, including biological, adopted, and stepchildren.
• The child lives in a foreign country.

Certain children who turn 21 during processing can still qualify, depending on how long the petition was pending. These cases are covered by the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA).

IR-2 vs. CR-2

The key difference between IR-2 and CR-2 visas is that the CR-2 visa leads to conditional permanent residence, and the IR-2 does not include conditions.

• The IR-2 visa is issued when the parent-child relationship is fully established. It results in a 10-year permanent resident card. While the card expires after 10 years, permanent residence status does not expire.
• The CR-2 visa is issued to the children of a U.S. citizen and a foreign national when the marriage between the two parents is less than two years old at entry. This visa comes with a conditional permanent resident status, which expires after two years and requires the removal of conditions.

When the IR-2 visa is the right choice

The IR-2 visa is an option in scenarios like:

• A U.S. citizen who is petitioning for their minor biological child who lives abroad.
• A U.S. citizen parent who is sponsoring an adopted child under 16 (or under 18 if the sibling exception applies), where the parent had custody and lived with the child for at least two years.
• A U.S. citizen who is sponsoring a stepchild, provided the marriage was more than two years ago and occurred before the child turned 18.

With all visa applications, you want to ensure you do it right the first time. Manifest can help streamline the IR-2 process, gather documentation, and answer questions during the process. Contact Manifest today to request a consultation.

Applying for the IR-2 visa

Step 1: File Form I-130 with USCIS

The process begins when the U.S. citizen parent files Form I-130 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to establish the qualifying family relationship between the parent and child. You will pay a filing fee, prove your U.S. citizenship, and demonstrate the parent-child relationship.

Step 2: National Visa Center processing

When the I-130 is approved, which can take between one and five years, the case is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC), managed by the State Department. The NVC collects fees, supporting documentation, and the Form DS-260 immigrant visa application. After reviewing and approving the petition, the NVC will forward it to a U.S. embassy or consulate in the child’s home country. This process of applying for a visa from abroad is also known as consular processing.

Step 3: Medical exam and visa interview

The child must complete a medical examination and attend a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.

Step 4: Entry to the United States

After visa approval, the child may enter the U.S. If they’re under 18 and living in the U.S. with their parents, they’ll automatically receive U.S. citizenship. Children over 18 become lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders).

Documents required for an IR-2 visa application

Petitioning for an IR-2 requires a wide range of documents at various stages of the process.

For Form I-130

• Completed and signed Form I-130
• Proof of the parent petitioner’s U.S. citizenship, like a copy of a birth certificate or a valid U.S. passport
• Proof of parent-child relationship (like a birth certificate, adoption papers, or a marriage certificate between a biological parent and the U.S. citizen)
• Form I-130 filing fee

For NVC processing

• Form DS-260
• State Department processing fee
• Proof of the child’s nationality, such as a valid passport and birth certificate
• Proof that the parent can financially support the child with Form I-864 Affidavit of Support and evidence (like IRS tax returns and pay stubs)

For the IR-2 visa interview

• Copy of appointment letter
• Confirmation page from the Form DS-260 submitted online
• Child’s original birth certificate, with an English translation and a photocopy
• Passport that is valid for six months beyond the child’s intended date of entry to the U.S.
• Photocopy of the passport’s biographic page (where the name and photo are located)
• Two identical, color, passport-size photographs of the child
• Medical examination results, which should be in a sealed envelope (if the physician gave the child the results)

IR-2 visa fees

These fees are accurate as of January 2026, but they can change at any time. Check the USCIS Fee Schedule for more information.

IR-2 visa processing times

IR-2 visa processing times vary, but typically include:

• USCIS Form I-130: 1.5 years to 5 years
• NVC processing: 2 to 4 months
• Embassy interview scheduling: Varies by location

Because IR-2 visas are immediate relative visas, they are not delayed by visa bulletin backlogs or annual caps.

IR-2 visas vs. other child visas

Get support completing your IR-2 visa application

The IR-2 visa process involves strict documentation requirements and coordination with USCIS, the NVC, and U.S. embassies. Manifest Law supports families through every stage of the family-based immigration process. Contact us today to request a consultation.

IR-2 visa FAQs

When does my child receive a Green Card?

If your child is under 18 and will live with you in the U.S., they automatically acquire citizenship, not a Green Card.

For children over 18, after the entire application is approved through consular processing, they’ll become a permanent resident upon entry to the U.S. They typically receive a physical Green Card in the mail, at their U.S. address, within one to three months.

Does the IR-2 visa provide citizenship?

No. The IR-2 visa grants lawful permanent resident status. U.S. citizenship may be acquired later through naturalization or, in some cases, automatically upon admission if all requirements of the Child Citizenship Act are met.

What is the difference between IR-1 and IR-2 visas?

IR-1 visas are available to spouses of U.S. citizens, while IR-2 visas are available to unmarried children of U.S. citizens.

Can my child work on an IR-2 visa?

Yes. Once admitted into the country, your child may live, study, and work in the U.S. as a permanent resident.