American F3 Visa Guide: Requirements and how to apply

With an F3 Visa, the married children of US citizens can live in the US permanently with their spouse and minor children. They can work legally without a need for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). They only need a Social Security Number to enroll in studies, as well as travel abroad and enter the US anytime they want.

Moreover, the F3 visa is a family-based Green Card that is part of the ‘Preference Relative’ category of US family visas. This visa is for the married child of a US citizen and the spouse and children of the married child.

Therefore, this article is set to guide you through on how to apply for this Visa. Also inform you about the requirements, cost, and other necessary information concerning this F3 Visa.

What is F3 Visa in USA?

F3 Visa is a Family Based Card that is made for married children of US citizens. This Family Green Card is highly beneficial to uniting families. So when you apply for this Visa and your application is successful, you can come to the US with your family.

Moreover, the F3 Visa is given to the children of US citizens who are in foreign countries. This visa does not apply to the children who are not married but is only given to married children of US citizens.

However, the spouse and minor children – unmarried and under 21 years old, are qualified to get the F3 Visa too.

Eligibility Requirements For US F3 Visa

To be eligible for the F3 Visa, you must fulfill these conditions:

• You must have a parent who is a US citizen and prove it through valid birth certificates or adoption documents.
• And you must be over 21 years old.
• You must be married and prove it through a valid marriage certificate.

Requirements for bringing Adults and children into the US with F3 Visa

For citizens of US who want to bring their adult child to the US permanently, you must fulfill these conditions:

• You must be a US citizen.
• And you must have an adult child in a foreign country and prove it through birth certificates or adoption documents.
• You must be living in the US and have a valid US address

How to Apply For the F3 Visa

The application process for the F3 Visa is long and has many steps. The process is initiated by the US citizen who must petition the US authorities to obtain permission to have their adult child, the spouse, and minor children come to the US. If the petition is approved, then the child and their family in the foreign country can start the application process. This means that the application is divided into two parts.

Two Parts of F3 Visa Application Process

The US Citizen petitions for their adult child, spouse, and minor children to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
When the petition is approved, the adult child and their family must apply to a US Embassy or Consulate in their home country

You cannot get the F3 Visa if the petition to USCIS has not been approved. You will not be allowed to apply and cannot be eligible for this type of Green Card.

First Part of the Application Process for F3 Visa

#1. Filing the petition to USCIS

The US citizen starts the application process by filing the petition to USCIS. The petition is filed by sending a complete Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative to USCIS. The petition goes through the US Department of Homeland Security and is processed after the US citizen has paid the fee. The US citizen must list their adult child’s spouse and minor children (if applicable) in the petition too. This will ensure that the whole family of the US citizen’s child will be eligible to get the F3 Visa and go to the US.

#2. Sending documents to NVC

If the petition is approved by the USCIS, then the documents will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC).
Note, that the petition is first processed by USCIS after, which responds to you within a few months, depending on the workload. If the petition is denied, the reasons for denial will be given so that the US citizen can then adjust the petition and file it again. If the petition is approved, then the documents will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC).

#3. Receive your documents with Case and Invoice ID number

The NVC sends a package of documents and instructions to the applicants in a foreign country. The documents contain your case number and invoice ID number which will be used to apply for the actual visa at the US Embassy as well as pay all the necessary fees.

#4. Receive Notifications from NVC for Second Application Step

Due to the challenges in the number of F3 Visas, you will not be able to apply for the visa even if your petition is approved when your priority date is not current. This means that if many other applications pass the limit of the F3 Visas, then you will have to wait for your turn. When your date is current, you will be notified by the NVC and can start step two of the application process.

Second Part of the Application Process For F3 Visa

When the NVC notifies you that your priority date has become current, then you can use the instructions in the document package you received from them to begin your application process to get the F3 Visa. Since the petition lists you as the adult child of a US citizen as well as your spouse and minor children, each individual must submit a visa application. The application is done at the US Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence.

#1. File Form DS-260

Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Electronic Application is the form that all applicants for immigrant visas must submit. You, your spouse, and your children must each submit a DS-260 Form. The form is completed online and you will need to give detailed information about your background and reasons for immigration. You can access your DS-260 Form by entering the NVC case number that you got in the instructional package. When you submit the form, you will get a confirmation page and number which you must then later send to the NVC as part of your documents file.

#2. Complete medical examination and vaccination

Anyone who is planning to immigrate and live in the US must go through a medical examination and get the necessary vaccines. In this case, you, your spouse, and your minor children must get the required check-ups at a licensed doctor and the vaccines. The documents must be signed by the licensed doctor and you must submit them as part of your documents file to the NVC.

#3. Compile documents file

Your documents file must contain all the necessary documentation which supports your case. You must convince the NVC and US Embassy or Consulate that you and your family fulfill all the requirements and are eligible to get the F3 Visa. The file must contain the following documents:

• Your valid passports for more than 6 months after your planned entry into the US (your passport, your spouse’s, and minor children’s).
• A signed Form I-864, Affidavit of Support from the US petitioner (applicant’s parent).
• Form DS-260 confirmation page.
• Medical examination and vaccination documents.
• Two US visa photos per individual according to the Photo Requirements.
• Your valid marriage certificate to prove your marriage.
• Birth certificates or adoption documents of your children.
• If you have been previously married, you must bring divorce or certificates of death to prove the marriage was officially terminated.
• Court and criminal records and/or police certificate.
• If you served in the military, you must bring your military records.

#4. Attend interview

After processing your supporting documents and determining that you fulfill all the requirements, the NVC will schedule your interview with the US Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence. You, your spouse, and your minor children must attend the interview. You will be asked about your background and the official will determine whether you can get the F3 Visa to join your parents in the US.

#5. Receive NVC packet and travel to the US.

If your visa is approved and you and your family get the F3 Visa, it will be stamped on your passports. You will also receive a package that you must bring with you when you travel to the US to enter for the first time with your immigrant visas. You must not open the package under any circumstances. Only the immigration officials at the US port of entry are allowed to open it and determine whether you are eligible to enter the US or not.

FAQs

How Much Does the F3 Visa Cost?

There are various fees that the petitioner and the applicant must pay throughout the application process for the F3 Visa. The amounts vary and are set by USCIS, the Department of Homeland Security, and the individual US Embassy or Consulate where you are applying. The main categories of fees that must be paid are as follows:

• Form I-130 filing fee.
• Processing fee for the Form DS-260.
• Medical examination and vaccination fees.
• Fees to get and translate all the supporting documents.
• USCIS Immigrant Fee which you must pay after you receive your visa and before you travel to the US. USCIS will not issue you a Green Card without you paying this fee.

How Long Is the F3 Visa Processing Time?

The processing times may be quite long. For the F3 Visa, the processing time can range from 1 year up to extreme cases of 10 years. This is because there are so many people applying of which they cannot all be processed at the same time.

What are Other Types of Family-Based Green Cards?

The Family Green Cards are denoted with the prefix F. There are four types of these visas which are:

• F-1 visa is given to unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens and their minor children (Not to be confused with the F-1 Student Visa)
• F-2 visa is given to the spouse and minor children (F-2A visa), or adult children (F-2B visa) of US Lawful Permanent Residents
• F3 Visa is given to married children of US citizens who will go to the US with their spouses and minor children
• F-4 visa is given to siblings of US citizens who will go to the US with their spouses and minor children. For this visa to apply, the US citizen must be at least 21 years old.

What is the difference between an F3 and F4 visa?

The difference is that the third preference Visa F3 is for married sons and daughters of US citizens, while the Fourth preference visa F4 is for brothers and sisters of US citizens (if the US citizen is 21 years

How long does it take for an F3 visa?

one to ten years for F3 Visa Processing Time. Since there is a very limited number of F3 visas allotted each year, the USCIS takes time to process applications thoroughly. Due to the number of applications received each year by USCIS, the processing time ranges from one to ten years.

Is an F3 visa a green card?

Yes. F3 Visa – Married Children of U.S. The F3 visa is a family-based Green Card that is part of the ‘Preference Relative’ category of US family visas. This visa is for the married child of a U.S. citizen and the spouse and children of the married child.

Conclusion

Now you can bring your adult children to the United States of America with an F3 Visa by following our guide diligently. Check out other types of US Visa like E2 Visa, O2 Visa, H1B Visa, A1 Visa, etc on this website.