F2A

[betty boop 0]

Hi. I'm an American citizen, but my parents are still under the permanent resident status. My dad will be eligible for citizenship in 2 years. He filed a petition for one of my sisters 3 yrs ago (below 21) and was approved and is just now waiting for a visa. We thought it would probably be best if we wait to file the petition for my OTHER sister (below 18) until he gets his citizenship, since we were told US citizens do not have visa quota. We thought it would be faster processing. Then we heard that in the case of the Philippines its different. How true is this? Do we file for the petition of my OTHER sister now or wait until my dad gets his citizenship? What will happen to the first petition? Would it be longer processing?

[aaron2020 11,651]

File now. It's a bad idea to wait. Time is being wasted.

When your father becomes a US citizen, the case can be upgraded to an Immediate Relative case if your sister is under 21 at that time or be retained in the F2b category if needed.

Precious time is being wasted by not filing now.

[apple21 953]

Why didn't he file for both daughters way back? They could have migrated at the same time.

As aaron2020 said, file NOW. The F2A can be upgraded to IR2 when your father gets his US citizenship.

[ndu26 114]

maybe what was meant by case of the philippines being different is that , the philippines has longer wait times for some of the categorie that the rest of the world. Well for F2A category the wait times arae the same all over.

here is the visa bulletin link for priority dates:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5885.html

I would suggest they file now for your other sister but they(parent) may have to delay their citizenship if she turns 21 before her case moves forward to the comsulate. if she turns 21 and they are citizens, she becomes F1 and the philippines is currently processing 1998 PD wheres as if she turns 21 and they are still LPR she becomes F2B and PD is currently at june 2002 for the philippnes.

if they file now and by some miracle , her case gets approved and moved to NVC and they become citizens while she is still under 21, visa becomes IMMEDIATELY available for her

[betty boop 0]

File now. It's a bad idea to wait. Time is being wasted.

When your father becomes a US citizen, the case can be upgraded to an Immediate Relative case if your sister is under 21 at that time or be retained in the F2b category if needed.

Precious time is being wasted by not filing now.

If my father becomes a US citizen, how can we retain the F2A category (my OTHER sister is 12 yo right now). Looking at the current visa bulletin, F2A has shorter waiting period than an F1.

[apple21 953]

If my father becomes a US citizen, how can we retain the F2A category (my OTHER sister is 12 yo right now). Looking at the current visa bulletin, F2A has shorter waiting period than an F1.

If Dad files F2A now and later becomes a US citizen, daughter will be upgraded to IR2 (Unmarried child below 21 of a US Citizen) not F1.

F1 is for Unmarried Son/Daughter OVER 21 of a US Citizen.

Edited February 18, 2013 by apple21