The (IR2, F1, F3) green card checklist below provides a general idea of the process, timeline and what is usually needed for the children of U.S. citizens to obtain their family-based green card. To have a better understanding of this list, please read the family-based green card overview to get the big picture and then please go through the IR2 unmarried minor children of U.S. citizens, F1 unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens, or F3 married children of U.S. citizens for details of each type of U.S. citizen’s children.
Please click to download the IR2, F1, F3 green card checklist for the children of a U.S. citizen.
The F-1 family preference green card petition is for a U.S. citizen’s unmarried adult child (over 21 years old) and the F-3 family preference green card petition is for a U.S. citizen’s married child. The spouse and dependent children (unmarried and under 21 years old) of the U.S. citizen’s F-3 married child can qualify for a green card by being listed as a derivative person under the married child’s F-3 family preference green card petition. The derivative children of F-3 married children of U.S. citizens can be protected by the Child Status Protection Action (CSPA) from aging out of their family-based green card petition.
The IR2 immediate relative green card is for unmarried minor (under 21 years old) children of U.S. citizens. Step children and adopted children of U.S. citizens are included as children under the F-1 or F-3 family preference green card petitions.
HAVE A FAMILY BASED GREEN CARD IMMIGRATION QUESTION? CONTACT US
If you have an F-1 family preference (unmarried adult child of U.S. citizen), F-3 family preference (married child of U.S. citizen), or IR2 (unmarried minor child of U.S. citizen) green card immigration question, please fill out our contact us form or send us an email with some basic information about your background and your immigration needs. We will do our best to respond within 48 hours.
How we can help?
Kylie Huang Law’s immigration attorney will help identify what type of family-based green card the client is qualified for and whether there are other green card options available to the client. We will work closely with our clients to prepare their family-based green card petition and we will also strategize on how the family-based green card petition should be presented in the filings and in the interview to achieve the best chances of approval. It is advised and common practice to retain an immigration attorney for certain unusual family-based green card petitions due to the complexities in the immigration process and visa requirements.
What does the typical process look like to retain (hire) us?
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- Fill out the form (with some basic information on what your immigration needs are)
- Sign up and log into the client portal to schedule an appointment online
- Attend scheduled appointment (typically a phone call or zoom meeting)
- Retainment (signing a contract to hire us)
- Start processing case
- Gathering required documents
- Preparing paperwork
- Confirming contents of documents that will be submitted
- Filing the case
- Following up on the status of the case
- Close the case when a final determination is issued
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- Step 2:
- Step 3:
- Step 4:
- Step 5:
- a.
- b.
- c.
- Step 6:
- Step 7:
- Step 8:
- Fill out the form (on what your immigration needs are)
- Sign up and log into the client portal to schedule an appointment
- Attend scheduled appointment (typically a phone call or zoom)
- Retainment (signing a contract to hire us)
- Start processing case
- Gathering required documents
- Preparing paperwork
- Confirming contents of documents that will be submitted
- Filing the case
- Following up on the status of the case
- Close the case when a final determination is issued
- Step 1:
- Step 2:
- Step 3:
- Step 4:
- Step 5:
- a.
- b.
- c.
- Step 6:
- Step 7:
- Step 8:
- Fill out the form (on what your immigration needs are)
- Sign up and log into the client portal to schedule appointment
- Attend scheduled appointment (typically a phone call or zoom)
- Retainment (hire us)
- Start processing case
- Gathering required documents
- Preparing paperwork
- Confirming content of documents that will be submitted
- Filing the case
- Following up on the case status
- Close the case when a final determination is issued
RELATED ARTICLES
- Immediate Relative of U.S. Citizen (IR)
- Married Children (F3) & Unmarried Children Over Age 21of U.S. Citizen (F1)
- Family Based Green Card Overview
- Marriage Based Green Card (IR1 / CR1 / F2A)
- Brother and Sister of U.S. Citizen (F4)
- Parents of U.S. Citizen (IR5)
- Family Members of Green Card Holders (F2A / F2B)
- Spouse of U.S. Citizen Green Card Checklist (IR1 / CR1)
- Parents of U.S. Citizen Green Card Checklist (IR5)
- Sibling of U.S. Citizen Green Card Checklist (F-4)
- Spouse of Deceased U.S. Citizen (EB4)
- Widow(er) of U.S. Citizen Green Card Checklist (EB4)
- Spouse of Green Card Holders Checklist (F2A)
- Children of Green Card Holders Checklist (F2A / F2B)