If you are sponsoring a family member for a green card, you may hear terms like F1, F2A, or F4.
These are family preference categories. They matter because they can control how long the wait is.
Quick tip:
If your relative is an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen (like a spouse, parent, or unmarried child under 21),
they are usually not in a preference category.
On this page
Immediate relatives typically are not limited by the yearly “preference” visa caps. They still have steps and processing time,
but they usually do not wait for a preference category to become current.
Official resources:
USCIS: immediate relatives •
State Dept: family immigration
Preference categories have yearly limits. That means there is usually a wait. Your wait depends on:
Official resource:
USCIS: family preference immigrants
Use this table to identify the basic category. Some cases have details that change the result.
If you are not sure, contact us for a consultation and can confirm the category and spot issues early.
| Code | Who the petitioner is | Who can be sponsored |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | U.S. citizen | Unmarried son or daughter age 21+ |
| F2A | Green card holder (LPR) | Spouse and unmarried child under 21 |
| F2B | Green card holder (LPR) | Unmarried son or daughter age 21+ |
| F3 | U.S. citizen | Married son or daughter (any age) |
| F4 | U.S. citizen | Brother or sister (petitioner must be 21+) |
F2A and F2B are both second-preference categories, but they cover different relationships and have very different wait times.
| F2A | F2B | |
|---|---|---|
| Petitioner | Green card holder (LPR) | Green card holder (LPR) |
| Beneficiary | Spouse or unmarried child under 21 | Unmarried son or daughter age 21 or older |
| Wait times | Generally shorter — often 2–3 years for most countries | Generally longer — often 5+ years; significantly longer for the Philippines and Mexico |
| Key issue | If the LPR naturalizes to U.S. citizen, the spouse and minor children become immediate relatives — no more wait | If the child marries, they move to F3 (if petitioner is a U.S. citizen) or lose eligibility (if petitioner is an LPR) |
The category is tied to the Form I-130 (the family petition). Start here:
Form I-130 guide.
Official form page:
USCIS: I-130
For preference categories, the government uses a priority date to track your place in line.
In many cases, the priority date is the date USCIS receives a properly filed petition.
The Visa Bulletin is published by the U.S. Department of State. It shows visa availability for each category and country.
Preference category cases often cannot be approved until the priority date is “current.”
For a step-by-step walkthrough, read:
Visa Bulletin guide.
Official Visa Bulletin:
travel.state.gov Visa Bulletin
People filing inside the U.S. should also review USCIS guidance on which Visa Bulletin chart applies to adjustment filings:
USCIS: AOS filing charts
After the I-130 is approved, the next steps depend on where your relative is located and whether they can apply inside the U.S.
Turning 21 can change a person from “child” to “son/daughter,” which can change the category and the wait.
In some cases, the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) may help. Each case is fact-specific.
Official resource:
USCIS: CSPA
Marriage can change the category. For example, an “unmarried son or daughter” category may no longer apply after marriage.
This can change timing and next steps.
The Visa Bulletin is divided by category and country. The “country” is often based on the person’s place of birth.
That can affect the wait, even for the same category.
A small category mistake can cause delays. We can confirm the category, explain the Visa Bulletin step,
and map the best eligible path (consular processing or AOS).
If your case is marriage-based, start here:
Marriage Green Card guide.
It is a family green card category with yearly limits. Because of those limits, people often wait for their priority date to become current in the Visa Bulletin.
Usually, no. Spouses of U.S. citizens are typically “immediate relatives.” If you are applying through marriage, see:
Marriage Green Card guide.
F2A is for the spouse and unmarried child under 21 of a green card holder. F2B is for an unmarried son or daughter age 21 or older of a green card holder.
It is usually the date USCIS receives a properly filed I-130. It acts like your place in line for preference categories.
Turning 21 can change the category. Sometimes CSPA may help, but the details matter. Official overview:
USCIS CSPA.
The Department of State publishes it here:
The Visa Bulletin.
For a simple walkthrough, see:
our Visa Bulletin guide.
Next pages in this cluster:
Visa Bulletin guide •
Consular vs AOS •
I-130 guide •
I-864 guide