The F3 visa is a family preference visa that allows married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens to apply for lawful permanent residency in the United States. The process begins when the U.S. citizen parent files a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with U.S. Citizenship and Immi-gration Services (USCIS). This petition serves to establish the familial relationship between the U.S. citizen and their married child. Once USCIS approves the petition, the case is transferred to the National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing, where additional documents and forms will be requested.
Once the petition is approved and forwarded to the NVC, the next step for the F3 applicant is to complete Form DS-260, the immigrant visa application. The applicant must provide supporting documents, including a birth certificate, proof of the marriage, and police records if applicable. Additionally, the applicant will need to undergo a medical examination by an approved physi-cian to meet the health requirements for entry into the U.S. After the documents are submitted, the applicant will be scheduled for an interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country. At the interview, the consular officer will verify the documents, confirm the family relationship, and assess the applicant’s eligibility for the F3 visa.
If the F3 visa is approved, the applicant will be issued an immigrant visa, allowing them to travel to the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident. Upon arrival in the U.S., the applicant will receive their Green Card in the mail. Since the F3 visa is part of the family preference category, it is subject to annual visa limits, meaning applicants may experience significant waiting times, especially from countries with high demand for family-based visas. Applicants should monitor the U.S. Department of State's visa bulletin to track their priority date and be prepared for po-tential delays in processing due to the limited number of available visas each year. Seeking le-gal assistance can help streamline the process and ensure timely submission of all required documentation.
