You may be happy with the life you now get to live in the United States. But understandably, a part of it may feel incomplete if you do not have your entire family with you. This may have you deeply considering sponsoring a family-based green card, otherwise commonly known as a family preference visa. Specifically, you may sponsor an F-1, F-2A, F-2B, F4, or namely, an F-3 visa. Before getting started, though, you must understand that your family members may qualify for different F visa types. Well, without further ado, please read on to discover who is potentially eligible to receive an F-3 visa and how one of the seasoned green card lawyers at Lupton Law LLC can help you serve as a sponsor for one.
Who is potentially eligible to receive an F-3 visa?
Essentially, an F-3 visa is a family preference visa type exclusively reserved for your married children, their spouses, and their minor children. With that being said, for your child to qualify, they must be at least 21 years of age. Also, they must have evidence that they are legally married (i.e., a copy of their marriage certificate) and proof that they are your legal child (i.e., a copy of a birth certificate or adoption certificate). Lastly, they must live outside the United States when their application is being processed.
It may be worth mentioning which of your family members is eligible for the other family presence visa types. Specifically, F1 visas are for your unmarried, minor children. F-2A visas are for your spouse and unmarried children if you are a legal permanent resident. F-2B visas are for your unmarried, minor children if you are a legal permanent resident. And F4 visas are for your siblings.
How can I be the sponsor for an F-3 visa?
Of note, to qualify as the sponsor of your married, adult child’s F-3 visa, you must have proof that you are a legal citizen of the United States. That is, you cannot just be a legal permanent resident of the country. Once this is confirmed, you may proceed with filing Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In essence, this is your promise to accept financial responsibility for your child if and when they come to live in the United States with you. Of note, this form must be filed alongside your child’s filing of Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Electronic Application.
You must understand that there is more that goes into this than you and your child simply filling out your respective applications. Ultimately, your child may not be granted an F-3 visa for close to 10 years, if granted one at all. This is due to the significantly high demand for this visa type, which may be possibly curbed by filing and paying for an expedited filing process.
At the end of the day, if you have any lingering doubts about your immigration application, one of the competent family-based immigration lawyers can help relieve them. So whenever you are ready to start, please reach out to Lupton Law LLC.
