If you are a green card holder (lawful permanent resident) trying to bring a child to the United States, you will hear about F2A and F2B. These are two different family preference categories with very different wait times. Here is exactly what each one means.
F2A covers the spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old of a lawful permanent resident (green card holder). This category has a shorter backlog than F2B because there is a higher annual visa allocation and it is considered a closer family relationship.
Current F2A cutoff date (July 2026): January 2025 for most countries. This means USCIS is processing petitions filed before January 2025 — a much shorter wait than other family categories.
F2B covers unmarried sons and daughters who are 21 years old or older at the time their visa number becomes available. Once a child "ages out" of F2A (turns 21), they automatically move to the F2B category, which has a significantly longer wait time.
Current F2B cutoff date (July 2026): November 2017 for most countries — a wait of approximately 8 to 9 years from filing. For the Philippines, it is May 2013 — over 13 years.
One of the biggest concerns for LPR families is what happens when a child who was filed under F2A turns 21 before their visa becomes available. They automatically shift from F2A to F2B, which can add years to their wait.
The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) was designed to help with this problem by freezing a child's age for immigration purposes in certain situations. However, CSPA calculations are complex and the protections do not always apply. Consulting an immigration attorney is strongly advised if your child is approaching 21.
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