Eligibility Criteria and Process for Obtaining an F3 Visa

1
(No Transcript)
2
United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) has continued to issue several
types of Immediate Relative (IR) and Family
Preference Visas for bringing the family members
of U.S. Citizens and Green Card Holders to the
USA. There is a long list of IR and Family
Preference Visas, which applicants can apply
based on their eligibility criteria. In this, we
will walk you through a commonly issued Visa by
USCIS - F3 Visa. We will discuss its eligibility
criteria, required documents, and the application
process.
www.salinas-law.com
3
What Is An F3 Visa?
F3 Visa falls in the Third Category of Family
Based Green Cards issued by USCIS to married
children of U.S. Citizens at least 21 years old.
F3 Visa is a part of the Family Preference
Relative Visa Class (F2 and F4 Visas). F3 Visa
Holders can live, work, and study in the U.S. It
allows the spouse and minor children (below 21
years) of the F3 Visa Holder to accompany them to
the U.S. The spouse can work in the U.S., and
children will have access to U.S. schools and
universities for study. There is an extended
waiting period to obtain an F3 Visa as it falls
under the Third Category, and USCIS has kept an
annual cap of 23,400 on the applicants who can
receive an F3 Visa. The F3 Visa applicants must
wait until their priority date becomes current
before applying.
www.salinas-law.com
4
F3 Visa Eligibility Criteria

• There are certain eligibility criteria that an
  applicant must fulfill to obtain an F3 Visa. The
  following are the eligibility criteria
• Must be above 21 years old
• Must be married and submit legal proof of their
  marriage (Marriage Certificate)
• Must have a legal parent who is a U.S. Citizen.
  They must submit their birth certificate or
  adoption documents to prove their parent-child
  relationship.
• The F3 Visa Sponsor must
• Be a U.S. Citizen
• Be living in the United States and have a valid
  address in the U.S.
• Have an adult child in a foreign country. They
  need to prove a relationship through a birth or
  adoption certificate.

www.salinas-law.com
5
Documents Required For F3 Visa

• The following is the list of documents the
  applicants must have when applying for an F3
  Visa
• Two Passport Size photographs and a Valid
  Passport for more than six months of F3 Visa
  applicant and the family members (spouse and
  minor children) accompanying the person
• Copy of Form DS-260 Confirmation Page
• Copy of Marriage Certificate of Applicant and
  their Spouse
• Copy of Birth Certificate or Adoption Documents
• Copy of Signed Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support
  from U.S. Petitioner)
• Copy of Medical Examination and Vaccination
  Report
• Copy of Military certificate if the applicant has
  served in military or armed forces
• Court or Criminal Records, if any
• Note Once you have collected the above
  documents, you must send the documents to the
  National Visa Center (NVC) for processing your
  application. If NVC requires additional proof,
  they will send a Request for Evidence (RFE).

www.salinas-law.com
6
F3 Visa Application Process

1. The Sponsor (U.S. Citizen) must file a petition
   on behalf of their adult child (applicant)
   through Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)
   and send it to USCIS. If the applicant's family
   members (spouse and minor children) will
   accompany them, you must include their
   information. You must pay a US535 filing fee for
   the petition.
2. After the petition is accepted, USCIS forwards it
   to NVC for further processing. The F3 Visa
   Applicant and their family members who will
   accompany them must process the application. NVC
   will send detailed instructions for further
   processing.
3. F3 Visa applicants must first check the
   availability of the annual cap on the NVC
   bulletin board, and once their priority date is
   current, they can continue with the next step in
   the process.
4. The applicants and their family members
   accompanying them to the U.S. must undergo a
   Medical Examination.
5. Once NVC approves the documents, the applicant
   and their family must attend an interview at
   their Local U.S. Embassy or Consulate Office.
6. After the Interview, if your application is
   approved, you will receive a sealed packet that
   must be opened only by the Customs and Border
   Protection (CBP) Officers at the Port of Entry.

www.salinas-law.com
7
Conclusion
After reading this, you will have a good
understanding of what the F3 Visa is, its
eligibility criteria, the documents required, and
the application process. Getting an F3 Visa is
undoubtedly a challenging process. It involves
extensive paperwork, documentation gathering, and
longer waiting periods, depending on the country
you apply from. As one of the best Immigration
Law Firms in Houston, Texas, we simplify the
pathway for all individuals looking to obtain an
Immigrant visa and Family-based Green Cards,
guiding them at every stage of the process from
meeting eligibility criteria to documentation
gathering, completing all essential paperwork,
and other tasks. At Salinas Law Firm, we have
highly experienced Immigration Visa Attorneys in
Houston, Texas, who can handle challenging and
complex cases. Our Houston Immigration Visa
Lawyers can help you speed up the application
process by helping you correctly prepare all
applications and supporting documents. Book a
consultation with our Houston F3 Visa Attorney by
calling us at 713.518.1711.
www.salinas-law.com
8
6060 Richmond Ave. 240, Houston, TX, USA - 77057
http//www.salinas-law.com/
713.518.1711