How can I include children on my green card application?
If you are considering moving to the U.S., you may be wondering about the impact on your family and whether it is possible for your children to immigrate with you. Many family-based or marriage-based applications allow the applicant (or beneficiary) to apply with their children. In many cases, children of green card applicants are eligible to obtain immigrant status as well and can complete the process alongside their parent. This guide will go over some of the most common family-based child visas.
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Classes of Admission for Children
Below are some common immigration scenarios where children can be included on green card applications and immigrate alongside their parents. It is important to note that these are not specific visa types but rather “immigrant classes of admission”.
F22
The “F22” class of admission broadly refers to “children of alien residents” who are residing outside of the U.S.. In other words, spouses of U.S. green card holders who are applying for spousal visas from outside of the U.S. may include their children on their applications. This class of admission falls under the category of “new arrivals”, and the total government filing fees for children in this class is $545.
F27
The “F27” class of admission broadly refers to “children of alien residents” who are residing in the U.S.. In this case, spouses of U.S. green card holders who are applying for marriage green cards from within the U.S. may include their children on their applications. This class of admission falls under the category of “adjustments”, since applicants are applying from within the U.S.. The total government filing fees for this class depend on the child’s age ($0 for children younger than 14, $85 for children 14 and older).
CR2 & IR2
The “CR2 & IR2” classes of admission broadly refer to children of U.S. citizens who are residing outside of the U.S.. For CR2 and IR2, spouses of U.S. citizens who are applying for spousal visas from outside of the U.S. may include their children on their applications. The CR2 class is conditional, meaning the child receives a conditional green card which is valid for 2 years and must be renewed. The IR2 class, on the other hand, grants the child a 10-year, non-conditional green card. The total government filing fees for CR2 and IR2 is $1,080.
CR7 & IR7
The “CR7 & IR7” classes of admission broadly refer to children of U.S. citizens who are residing in the U.S.. In this case, spouses of U.S. citizens who are applying for marriage green cards from within the U.S. may include their children on their applications. The CR7 class is conditional, meaning the child receives a conditional green card which is valid for 2 years and must be renewed. The IR7 class grants the child a 10-year, non-conditional green card. The total government filing fees for this class depend on the child’s age ($1,285 for children younger than 14, $1,760 for children 14 and older).
K-2
Although it is a visa type rather than a class of admission, the K-2 visa is worth mentioning as a common family-based immigration path for children. The K-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa that can be used by the children of a K-1 visa holder to enter the United States and later apply for a green card through the “Adjustment of Status” process. The government filing fees for the K-2 visa are $265.
CF2 & IF2
The “CF2 & IF2” classes of admission broadly refer to children who are adjusting status from a K-2 visa to a green card (as noted above). The CF2 class is conditional, meaning the child receives a conditional green card which is valid for 2 years and must be renewed. The IF2 class refers to children who receive a 10-year, non-conditional green card. The total government filing fees for this class depend on the child’s age ($750 for children younger than 14, $1,225 for children 14 and older).
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