Spouses and Children of Green Card Holders (F2A)

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Last updated: November 9, 2025.

Reviewed by Asel Williams, Esq. · Columbia Law School · Licensed immigration attorney

If you’re the spouse or child (under 21 years old) of a U.S. Green Card holder, you may be eligible to apply for your own Green Card through the F2A visa.

In this article, Williams Law has your guide to applying for and successfully obtaining the F2A visa.

What Is the F2A Visa?

In accordance with U.S. immigration law, the family members of lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) are eligible to apply for their own Green Card by way of two family preference visa categories (F2A and F2B).

The F2A visa is one of the two categories designated for family members of Green Card holders.

The F2A visa specifically provides preference to the spouses and unmarried children of lawful permanent residents.

Who Can Apply for the F2A Visa?

To be eligible for an F2A visa, the applicant must have a spouse or parent with a valid Green Card currently residing in the U.S.

The lawful permanent resident must petition (submit a formal request) with USCIS in order to allow their family member to apply for the F2A visas.

Think of the petition (Form I-130) as the first step in the F2A visa application.

Once the petition is approved by USCIS, the spouse or child may then begin the rest of the F2A visa application process.

For your family member to petition on an applicant’s behalf for an F2A visa, the applicant must be one of the following:

Legally Married Spouse: Spouses must be able to provide proof that they are legally married to the petitioner. Same-sex spouses are eligible if the marriage is legally recognized in the location of marriage registration. You will need to provide a copy of the government-issued marriage certificate. Marriages registered in the US and abroad are equally recognized by USCIS.
Unmarried Children: USCIS considers single unmarried children under the age of 21 eligible for F2A visa status. Children can be biologically related to, adopted by or the stepchildren of the petitioner (only if marriage of the child’s biological parent and permanent resident took place before the child’s 18th birthday).

How to Apply for the F2A Visa

The process of applying for the F2A visa includes several steps:

Step 1. File the Immigrant Petition (Form I-130)

In order to submit proof of their relationship with their foreign national family member, the lawful permanent resident must file the immigrant petition Form I-130 with USCIS
If filing Form I-130 for a spouse, additional Form I-130A must be submitted
Include any supporting documents that will help USCIS determine the validity of your relationship (birth certificates, marriage certificate, affidavits, etc.) Learn more: Form I-130 checklist.

Step 2. Wait for Petition Approval

During this time, USCIS will review your petition.
Check the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin to see if a visa number is available based on your Form I-130 priority date.
Wait time is dependent upon visa demand and the applicant’s priority date.

Step 3. Receive Notification of Approval

When the visa becomes available, the applicant will be notified by the National Visa Center (NVC) and given a case number.

Step 4. Pay Fees

Submit payment required visa fees as instructed by NVC:
- $325 for Form DS-260
- $120 for Affidavit of Support

Step 5. Complete Form DS-260

Form DS-260: Immigrant Visa Application
Submit supporting civil documents (passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, affidavit, etc.)
Petitioner must upload a signed Affidavit of Support, along with the tax documents (federal tax return and W-2/1099 form(s) for the most recent year)
Complete forms here.

Step 6. Medical Exam

The applicant must schedule their medical exam with a physician that is authorized by the U.S. Department of State.

Step 7. Attend Interview

The applicant will be interviewed by a consular officer.
The consular office will ask questions regarding the relationship between the petitioner and applicant, background, and verify the information provided on the application.

Step 8. Visa Issuance or Request for Additional Documentation

If the application is approved, the applicant’s passport will be stamped with the F2A visa. Pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee of $235 prior to entering the U.S.
In some instances, additional documentation may be requested by the US Department of State.

Step 9. Enter the U.S.

F2A visa holders will be permitted to travel to the U.S. dependent upon the discretion of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the port of entry.
The original green card will be delivered to the U.S. address listed on the applicant’s Form DS-260 in approximately 90 days.

F2A Visa Checklist of Documents

The F2A visa application requires several documents from both the petitioner and the applicant.

To help ensure that you have everything you need, here’s a checklist of commonly required documents:

For the Petitioner (Lawful Permanent Resident):

Form I-130: Immigrant petition which has been filed and approved by USCIS.
Form I-130A: this form is required only for spouses of permanent residents. Form I-130A is completed and signed by the foreign national spouse
Proof of Lawful Permanent Resident Status:
- Copy of green card (Form I-551) or copy of the stamped immigrant visa.
US passport-style photographs:
- Only if petitioning for a spouse – two recently taken photographs of both spouses
Proof of Relationship:
- Marriage certificate (if petitioning for spouse), plus proof of bona fide marriage
- Birth certificate(s) (if petitioning for child).
- Marriage certificate and birth certificate (if petitioning for stepchild)
Proof of Eligibility:
- Form I-864, Affidavit of Support: Documentation proving the petitioner’s ability to financially support the applicant.

For the Applicant:

Passport:
- Valid passport that must remain valid for at least 6 months after the intended stay period in the U.S.
Form DS-260:
- Online Immigrant Visa Application form, completed and submitted.
Two Recent Passport-Style Photographs:
- Must follow US Department of State passport photo guidelines.
- Some U.S. embassies and consulates have tools that you can utilize to properly crop your passport photo.
Birth Certificate:
- Original government issued or notarized copy of birth certificate.
Marriage Certificate (if applicable):
- Original government issued or notarized copy of marriage certificate.
Police Clearance Certificate:
- Applicants must pass a police background check and provide a police clearance certificate from each country or region where they have lived in for 6 months or more since reaching the age of 16.
Military Records (if applicable):
- Only if the applicant has served in the military of any country.
Medical Examination Results:
- Must be completed by an authorized physician and delivered in a sealed envelope. Unsealed documents may not be accepted.
Proof of Relationship:
- The applicant may be asked to provide additional evidence of their relationship with the petitioner (photographs together, communications, joint accounts, etc.).
Affidavit of Support (Form I-864):
- If required, this form must be completed and signed by the petitioner, along with supporting financial documents (tax returns, W-2 forms for the most recent year, and employment verification).

Additional Documents (if applicable):

Divorce or Death Certificate:
- Only required if either the applicant or the petitioner was previously married.
Adoption Documentation:
- Only required if the applicant is the adopted child of the petitioner.
Waiver Documentation:
- Any applicable waivers or exceptions (if requested or required).

How Much Does the F2A Visa Cost?

With an extensive list of required documentation for the F2A visa application process, you may be wondering how much all this will cost you.

The total cost will vary depending on which forms are required for your unique case.

However, let’s take a look at the breakdown of fees that could be associated with the F2A visa application process:

Filing Fee for Form I-130: As of 2024, the filing fee is $625 (if filing online), or $675 (if filing by mail). This fee is paid by the petitioner.
Form DS-260 Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee: As of 2024, this fee is $325.
Medical Examination Fee: Typically range from $100 to $300. The cost of medical examination varies by country and individual physician rates.
Affidavit of Support Fee (Form I-864): this fee is $120.
Translation and Document Costs: If any documents need to be translated to English, the petitioner and/or applicant may incur fees for this service. Costs will vary but, typically, translators charge from $0.10 to $0.50 per word.
Travel Expenses: Beneficiaries will cover the cost of any travel expenses associated with the visa application process and entering the U.S. Cost will vary.

Please note that some of the above cost figures are estimates.

F2A Priority Date

The F2A visa priority date is an essential piece of the application process.

The priority date refers to the date in which the Form I-130 is correctly filed by the petitioner with USCIS.

Why is the F2A priority date important?

It determines the applicant’s place in line for a visa number.

The F2A visa has an annual numerical limit, meaning that only a certain amount of visas are issued each year.

Petitioners who complete and file Form I-130 earlier will help the applicant by giving them an earlier priority date.

Applicants with earlier priority dates will generally have the earliest access to visa numbers.

Petitioners and applicants will need to regularly check the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin to see which priority dates are currently eligible for visa processing.

When your priority date becomes eligible, you may then move on to the next step in the F2A visa application process.

Learn more: How to Read the Visa Bulletin for Family-Based Immigrants

U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin

The Visa Bulletin is a publication by the Department of State that provides monthly updates and information for those who seek a U.S. Visa.

The Visa Bulletin includes the cut-off dates for each visa category (including F2A), visa availability, and priority date changes.

Petitioners and beneficiaries are encouraged to regularly check the Visa Bulletin to stay current on the status of F2A visa availability based on priority dates.

This will help applicants determine when they can move forward in the visa application process.

To access the Visa Bulletin, please visit the Department of State’s website.

Updates are usually provided at the midway point of each month.

F2A Visa vs. F2B Visa

The F2A and F2B visa categories are both family preference immigrant visas.

However, there are key differences in the age limit, numerical limit, and wait time.

This table shows the difference between the two:

F2A	F2B
Spouses of lawful permanent residents or unmarried children of lawful permanent residents under the age of 21	Unmarried children of lawful permanent residents 21 years old or older
Higher numerical limit (87,934)	Lower numerical limit (26,266)
Shorter wait time (approx. 2-3 years)	Longer wait time (approx. 7 years)

F2A Visa Processing Time

F2A visa processing time can vary depending on a few factors, including Form I-130 processing time, wait time for the priority date to become current, and NVC processing times.

Let’s break down the wait times each of those to approximate the total wait time for the F2A visa.

Form I-130: The U.S. Green Card holder or lawful permanent resident must file the immigrant petition, Form I-130. The current processing time for Form I-130 is 12-13 months (if you filed the petition correctly and submitted all the required documents). You can check the current average USCIS Form I-130 processing times here.

Wait for priority date to become current: The priority date becomes current once the applicant is in the front of the line for a green card. This may take anywhere between a few months and one year, depending on visa availability. You can check the current F2A priority date here.

NVC processing times: When the visa number becomes available, the applicant’s case will be passed to NVC. NVC will process all fees, forms and documents before sending the case to a local embassy or consulate. Once the case is passed to an embassy or consulate, the applicant will be interviewed by a consular officer who will ask questions, process their application, and determine their eligibility for the F2A visa. This process typically takes a few months. You can check the latest NVC processing times here.

In total, the F2A visa application process takes approximately 2-3 years from start to finish.

Please be aware that this approximation can vary in special cases and is subject to change based on visa availability.

To stay up-to-date on F2A visa availability, priority dates, and changes, regularly check the Visa Bulletin or contact us at Williams Law for personalized assistance. Consulting with our experienced and knowledgeable immigration professionals can provide valuable insights into the current processing timelines.

F2A Visa FAQs

What is an F2A visa?

The F2A visa is one of five family preference visa categories.

The F2A visa is designated specifically to the spouses and children (under 21 years old) of current U.S. Green Card holders (lawful permanent residents).

How long is the wait for a F2A visa?

Currently, the wait time for the F2A visa is approximately 2-3 years. This is subject to change based on visa availability.

What is F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4?

These are the five family preference visa categories. Each is designated for a specific type of family relationship.

F1 – First preference visa for unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age and older) of U.S. citizens

F2A – Second preference visa for spouses and children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of lawful permanent residents

F2B – Second preference visa for unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age and older) of lawful permanent residents

F3 – Third preference visa for married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens

F4 – Fourth preference visa for brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years of age and older)

What is F2A vs. F2B visa?

The F2A visa is designated for the spouses and unmarried children under 21 years old of the U.S. Green Card holders or lawful permanent residents.

The F2B visa is designated for the unmarried children of Green Card holders that are 21 years old or older.

The F2A visa is associated with larger numerical limits and shorter wait times when compared to the F2B visa.

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Married to a Green Card Holder and Living Abroad

Married to a Green Card Holder and Living in the United States