The F-2B category covers unmarried adult children (age 21 or older) of US lawful permanent residents (LPRs). It is one of the most backlogged family preference categories, with waits that can stretch well over a decade for some countries.
If you or a family member is waiting on an F-2B case, here is what you need to know and track right now.
What Is the F-2B Visa Category?
A lawful permanent resident (a green card holder, not a US citizen) can petition for their unmarried child who is 21 or older. That child falls under the F-2B preference category.
Because the number of green cards available each year is capped by law, demand far exceeds supply. The result is a waiting list measured in years, sometimes decades, depending on where the applicant was born.
The monthly Visa Bulletin, published by the US State Department, sets the cutoff date. Your priority date (the date USCIS received the original petition) must be earlier than the cutoff before you can move forward with your green card application.
Why F-2B Backlogs Are So Long
The annual cap for all family preference visas is set by the Immigration and Nationality Act. F-2B shares a portion of that cap with other categories. Countries like Mexico and the Philippines have huge demand relative to their per-country limit, so their cutoff dates can lag far behind the rest of the world.
As of mid-2026, typical F-2B cutoff dates look roughly like this by chargeability country:
- All countries (except below): Several years behind the current date
- Mexico: Cutoff dates in the mid-2000s, meaning waits of 20+ years
- Philippines: Cutoff dates in the early-to-mid 2010s
- China and India: Closer to the worldwide cutoff but still years behind
Always check the current Visa Bulletin at travel.state.gov for the exact, up-to-date figures. These numbers move every month and are the only official source.
What to Track If You Have an F-2B Case
There are several things worth following on a regular basis:
- Monthly Visa Bulletin movement for your country of chargeability
- USCIS processing times for Form I-130 (the petition) and Form I-485 (adjustment of status, if filing inside the US)
- National Visa Center (NVC) case status updates if your case is at a US consulate abroad
- Policy memos or rule changes from USCIS that affect family preference categories
- Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) guidance, which can affect whether an applicant ages out of a different category
One important point: if the petitioner naturalizes (becomes a US citizen), an F-2B child converts to the immediate relative category, which has no cap and no waiting list. That is worth tracking too.
A Copy-Paste AIDular Prompt for F-2B Tracking
If you want a weekly summary of F-2B news delivered to your inbox, you can set up an automated report at aidular.com. Here is a prompt you can copy and paste directly:
"Every week, search for updates on the F-2B visa category, including the latest Visa Bulletin priority dates for Mexico, Philippines, and worldwide chargeability, USCIS processing time changes for Form I-130, any new USCIS policy memos affecting family preference categories, and news about F-2B backlogs or immigration legislation. Summarize findings with links to official sources."
AIDular will run that search on your chosen schedule and email you a clean, sourced report. You stop refreshing travel.state.gov and uscis.gov every few days.
How to Stay on Top of Your Case
A few practical habits:
- Check the Visa Bulletin the day it comes out (usually the second Thursday of each month)
- Log into your USCIS online account or call the NVC for case-specific status
- Set up USCIS email notifications for your receipt number
- Talk to a licensed immigration attorney before taking any steps on your case
That last point matters. Nothing in this post is legal advice. Every F-2B situation is different. An attorney can review your specific petition, timeline, and options.
Try AIDular Free
You can set up your first tracking report for free at aidular.com. No credit card needed. It takes about two minutes to configure, and the weekly summaries come straight to your inbox so you never miss a Visa Bulletin drop.