What is the current F2A visa category?
F2A Visa Category will Remain Current Till October. US citizens and Green Card holders can sponsor their spouses and children for lawful status in America. Spouses and children of US citizens belong to the immediate relatives category and the spouses and children of permanent residents belong to the family preference category.
Can a green card holder apply for an F2A visa?
Now the F2A visa category is current and this is a great opportunity for the Green Card holders who seek to bring their spouses and children to the United States. Applicants can keep track of the waiting time by going through the visa bulletin that is being published every month.
When will F2A visa status end?
For the sixth month in a row, F2A is 'current' for all countries of chargeability. According to comments published by the Visa Office in October 2019, this situation should last until until February 2020 included. Documentarily qualified candidates going through Consular Processing may hope for faster interviews.
Can immediate relatives of permanent residents apply for F2A status now?
Now the immediate relatives of permanent residents also can do the same. This F2A category will remain current for a limited time period. According to the US Department of Homeland Security, priority dates are likely to move backwards in October.
How long does F2A visa take 2022?
As of mid-2022, people in category F2A were facing no wait at all from most countries (with the exception of Mexico), but it's often about two years before the U.S. government can allot a visa number and allow someone to carry on with the application process for permanent residence, plus another ten months or so months ...
What does F2A current mean?
Second preference (F2A) - spouses and children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of lawful permanent residents; Second preference (F2B) - unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age and older) of lawful permanent residents; Third preference (F3) - married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens; and.
How long is the F2A visa processing time?
Estimated timelineApplication stepsEstimated TimelineStep 1. USCIS processing of Form I-13011-15 months from the date of filingStep 2. USCIS Receipt Notice issued2 weeks from the date of filingStep 3. Visa number availability (F2A category)Varies (check the latest Visa Bulletin)Step 4. Form I-485 processing9-11 months4 more rows
What is visa F2A?
The F2A Visa is part of the Family Immigration Visas provided by the US immigration service. F2A means second preference, and it relates to spouses and children of lawful permanent residents. Apply now. We can confirm that the Family Immigration category splits between Immediate Relative and Family Preference.
How long does it take for NVC to schedule interview 2022?
How long does it take to get an appointment? Although NVC strives to schedule appointments within three months of NVC's acceptance of all requested documentation, this timeframe is subject to the operating status and capacity of the consular section.
Which priority date is current?
You can find your priority date on the I-797 form mailed by USCIS approving your I-130 petition. Current: In the context of the visa bulletin, “current” means no backlog and no wait time for a green card. A particular priority date becomes “current” once it reaches the front of the line and a green card is available.
Is NVC scheduling interviews in 2022?
After reviewing your application, the NVC will schedule your immigrant visa interview. As of April 25, 2022, the NVC is reviewing documents submitted on or before February 4, 2022. Applicants must still complete all necessary formalities for their applications before the NVC reviews their case.
How long does it take for NVC to send case to Embassy 2022?
Your petition is awaiting an interview appointment. At this time, no further action is required. We appreciate your patience. After the NVC sends you this confirmation, then you can expect to wait between 2-6 months for the NVC to schedule you an interview at the U.S. consulate in your home country.
How many F2A visas are issued each year?
These visas have an allocated amount of 114,200 visas per year. This cap of visas is allocated in this way to the two categories: F2A visa gets at least 79,940 visas or 70% of the total number of visas.
How do I change from F2A to ir1?
If you filed a petition for your spouse when you were a lawful permanent resident (LPR), and you are now a U.S. citizen, you must upgrade the petition from family second preference (F2) to immediate relative (IR). You can do this by sending proof of your U.S. citizenship to the National Visa Center (NVC).
Is F2A immediate relative?
You go from category F2A straight to immediate relative. This means that you jump off the waiting list and immediately move forward with your visa or green card processing. Thus if your permanent-resident spouse or parent qualifies for U.S. citizenship, he or she would be wise to apply as soon as possible.
How long it takes to petition brothers or sisters?
After you've filled out Form I-130 and submitted it to the USCIS, all you can do is wait to hear back from them. If you've submitted everything correctly and accurately, the application will be approved. This usually takes somewhere between 2 to 5 years. But the waiting time may further extend in some cases.
What is the priority date for F2A?
In June 2019, the Final Action Date for F2A was July 15th 2017. In July 2019, it became 'current' which means that the cutoff date moved forward two years to July 1st 2019.
What happens after priority date becomes current?
Generally, it is cause for celebration when these individuals' priority dates become current, as then are eligible to apply for adjustment of status. When the Final Action Date becomes current, the individual should receive permanent residence.
What happens when final action date is current?
Final action dates are the dates that are most commonly used by applications for filing adjustment of status applications with USCIS during rest of the year after first few months. If the final action dates chart shows as 'Current' or 'C', then it means that there is no wait time in the green card queue.
What is the difference between F2A and FX?
F-2A is your preference category (which tells you how you'd need to wait for visa processing). FX1 is the actual visa type (spouse of a lawful permanent resident) that you will be issued...
What Is the F2A Visa?
The F2A visa is a US immigrant visa for spouses or minor children of Green Card holders. This visa is designed to allow US Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) to bring these certain family members to the US permanently.
Who Can Obtain the F2A Visa?
To be able to apply for an F2A visa, you must fulfill the following conditions:
What Is the F2A Visa Processing Time?
The NVC processes visas in chronological order, so it depends on how many applications were before you. This means that it usually takes a year or more for your date to become current and thus the processing time is quite long.
What if the Petitioning LPR got a US Citizenship While the F2A Visa is Processing?
This means that the spouse and children qualify for a different type of visa, which is the Immediate Relative (IR) visa. This visa does not have a cap so the processing is much faster.
What is the F2A process?
The F2A application process is divided into two parts: The US Lawful Permanent Resident petitions for their spouse or minor children to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) When the petition is approved, the spouse or child must apply to a US Embassy or Consulate in their home country.
What is DS 260?
Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Electronic Application is the form which all applicants for immigrant visas must submit. It is done online and it will inquire on your personal and background information, as well as reasons why you are immigrating to the US. It will also ask you to write your NVC case number and invoice ID number. You must fill in the appropriate sections and then submit it. After submission, you will receive a confirmation number page which you must submit to NVC as part of your documents file.
How many family preference visas are there?
The Family Preference visas have a limitation on their number. These visas have an allocated amount of 114,200 visas per year. This cap of visas is allocated in this way to the two categories:
What is happening with F2A- All countries?
To understand what is happening with F2A- All Countries, we have to go back to the summer of 2019. In June 2019, the Final Action Date for F2A was July 15th 2017. In July 2019, it became ‘current’ which means that the cutoff date moved forward two years to July 1st 2019.
When is the fiscal year?
Note: U.S. immigration agencies ‘Fiscal Year’ is from October to the following September. It is different from a ‘Calendar’ year. For example Fiscal Year 2018 is from October 2017 to September 2018, and Fiscal Year 2019 is from October 2018 to September 2019.
What is the fiscal year 2019?
Fiscal Year 2019 refers to the period from October 2018 to September 2019 and is represented by the bright green line. By getting F2A ‘current’ in July, U.S. Immigration Agencies created a year like no other, and that we may never see again:
Can I file an I-485 with adjustment of status?
Applicants going through Adjustment of Status are often allowed to use the ‘Filing Date’ of the Visa Bulletin to determine when they are allowed to file Form I-485. Here is the latest:
When will Immigration Planner update its predictions?
We expect to update our predictions the day after the next Visa Bulletin is released . Our best guess as to when we will update these predictions is as follows:
When is the fiscal year?
Note: U.S. immigration agencies ‘Fiscal Year’ is from October to the following September. It is different from a ‘Calendar’ year. For example Fiscal Year 2018 is from October 2017 to September 2018, and Fiscal Year 2019 is from October 2018 to September 2019.
What happened during Fiscal Year 2018?
Fiscal Year 2018 was below the average of the last 20 years for F2A-Philippines:
What is fiscal year 2018?
Fiscal Year 2018 refers to the period from October 2017 to September 2018. The following graph compares the last 20 years of the Visa Bulletin with Fiscal Year 2018 (represented by the annotated line). Fiscal Year 2018 was below the average of the last 20 years for F2A-Philippines:
Can I file an I-485 with adjustment of status?
Applicants going through Adjustment of Status are often allowed to use the ‘Filing Date’ of the Visa Bulletin to determine when they are allowed to file Form I-485. Here is the latest:
Is F2A still in effect?
As long as the Green Card Suspension, which stopped processing of Consular F2A, is in effect, F2A should remain 'current'. How quickly will the Biden Administration remove the suspension, and how quickly will that impact the Visa Bulletin is however an open question. This is important: when F2A Consular Processing resumes however, we are talking about trying to fit ~18 months of demand into at most a 9-month window (which is then likely to lead to a cut-off date being re-established at some point in 2021). As for the near future however, the Feb 2020 Visa Bulletin indicates that F2A should remain 'current' in the coming months.
What is the F1 preference?
First preference (F1) - unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age and older) of U.S. citizens; Second preference (F2A) - spouses and children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of lawful permanent residents; Second preference (F2B) - unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age and older) of lawful permanent residents;
What is the F3 family preference?
Third preference (F3) - married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens; and. Fourth preference (F4) - brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years of age and older). This page provides specific information for aliens in the United States who want to apply for lawful permanent resident status based on a family preference ...
What is the ground of inadmissibility for family preference immigrants?
As a family preference immigrant, the following ground of inadmissibility does not apply to you: Labor certification and qualifications for certain immigrants (INA 212 (a) (5)) If you are inadmissible, the law may allow you to apply for a waiver of inadmissibility or other form of relief.
How to apply for employment authorization for a pending I-485?
Generally, when you have a pending Form I-485, you may apply for employment authorization by filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
Can a family member get a green card?
U.S. immigration law allows certain aliens who are family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to become lawful permanent residents (get a Green Card) based on specific family relationships. If you are the spouse, minor child or parent of a U.S. citizen, please see the Green Card for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizen page for information on how to apply for a Green Card.
Who is the principal applicant on an I-130?
If you are the named beneficiary of a Form I-130, you are called the principal applicant. As the principal applicant, you should submit the following documentation and evidence to apply for a Green Card as a family preference immigrant who is already in the United States:
Can I file for a green card without leaving the country?
If you are currently in the United States, an immigrant visa is immediately available to you as a family preference immigrant, and you meet certain other requirements, you may file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to apply for a Green Card without leaving the country. If a visa is immediately available, you may file your Form I-485:
How to stay informed about the March 2021 visa?
To stay in the know about things like the March 2021 visa bulletin, you can subscribe to the Department of State’s newsletter by emailing [email protected] with the message “Subscribe Visa Bulletin.”
How long did the Philippines advance in F-4?
Philippines advanced just over 5 months in the F-4 category. For the purposes of the July 2021 bulletin, USCIS has indicated to use the Dates for Filing chart for all Family-Sponsored preference categories, except the F2A category which should use the Final Action Dates Chart. Category. Rest of the. World.
What are the chargeability areas for family based immigration?
There are five chargeability areas for this category: China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and all other countries . Due to the global pandemic and limited appointments at overseas consular offices, family-based immigrant visas continue to see low usage numbers. Therefore, any family-based visas that are unused get added to the EB categories.
How long will the EB-5 advance?
The same goes for EB-3 (other) for India with advancement by over a year. EB-5 Vietnam also sees considerable advancement by one year and 11 months to April 1, 2020 and EB-5 China advances one month and 24 days to November 8, 2015. We will continue to monitor these movements and keep you informed whether USICS indicates applicants to use ...
Is it necessary to retrogress China-Mainland born and India Employment Third preference final action dates?
Regarding the November Visa Bulletin, the State Department has said, “It has been necessary to retrogress both the China-mainland born and India Employment Third preference final action dates. This is a direct result of hefty applicant demand for numbers, primarily by Citizenship and Immigration Services offices for adjustment of status cases.”
Does USCIS accept 5th preference?
USCIS has specified to use the Dates for Filing Chart in the Department of State November Visa Bulletin for all employment-based preference categories. USCIS is not accepting any new employment-based fifth preference adjustment of status applications based on the Regional Center Program until that program is reauthorized.
Does adjustment of status affect visa processing?
If you have an Adjustment of Status Application already pending, we do not think it will affect its processing. Your priority date will need to be current for the visa to be approved. We may see that the retrogression prevents some applicants from filing in the EB-3 category for the rest of 2021 based on whether USCIS uses the Dates for Filing Chart or Final Action Chart in upcoming months.
