The IR2 visa is a US immediate relative visa for unmarried children under 21 years old of a US citizen. It can also be given if the child is under the Child Status Protection Act and is treated as if he or she were under 21 years old.
Benefits of the IR2 visa:
Immediate Relative Immigrant Visas as compared to the Family Preference Immigrant Visas is that they do not have an annual cap.
Children who are under 18 years old, and enter the US with an IR2 will get US citizenship immediately when they enter the US and state that they will live in the US with their parents.
Those who are over 18 years old become permanent residents and receive their IR2 Green Cards, and can apply for citizenship when they are eligible.
IR2 Visa Requirements
The reqiuirements for the IR2 visa are the following:
- The child must be under 21 years old, and unmarried.
- The child must live in a foreign country.
- The parent must be a US citizen.
Supporting Documents for an IR2 Visa Application
The IR2 visa file must contain the following required documents:
- Your valid passport for more than 6 months after your planned entry into the US
- A signed Form I-864, Affidavit of Support from the US petitioner (applicant’s parent)
- Form DS-260 confirmation page
- Medical examination and vaccination documents
- Two photographs per individual according to the US Visa Photo Requirements
- Court and criminal records and/or police certificate
- If you served in the military, you must bring your military records
How to Apply For the IR2 Visa?
The application process for the IR2 visa follows similar patterns to other types of family based visas. It has two main parts:
- The US citizen petitions for the child to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- The child must apply to a US Embassy or Consulate in their home country.
Filing the Petition
The petition can be done by filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relatives. The petition is then processed by USCIS and they respond within a few months, depending on the workload.
If the petition is approved, then the documents will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC will then be your main contact for the IR2 visa.
If the petition is denied, the reasons for denial will be given so that the US citizen can then adjust the petition and file it again.
The NVC will send a package with information and instructions to the applicant in a foreign country. The package will also include the case number and invoice ID number. This number serves to start the application from the US Embassy or Consulate in the foreign country.
Applying for the IR2 Visa
If the applicant for the IR2 visa is as a minor, they may have someone help them with their application. The application process will typically go through these steps:
Step 1: File Form DS-260
Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Electronic Application is the form which all applicants for immigrant visas must submit. The application can be accessed by using the NVC case number which links it to your case and the approved petition. The IR2 visa applicant or someone helping them must fill out all the necessary sections, which will have questions related to the applicant’s information, background, and purpose of immigrating to the US. When you submit the DS-260 form, you will get a confirmation page and number which you must attach to your supporting documents.
Step 2: Complete medical examination and vaccination
The NVC package which the applicant received after the approval of the petition will specify what medical procedures the applicant must complete and the vaccines they need to get. Only a licensed doctor who will sign them can complete the documents and the check-ups. These documents will be attached to your supporting file which you will then send to the NVC.
Step 3: Compile documents file
Besides the application form, you must also attach various supporting documents to give NVC a better reason as to why you should be allowed to immigrate to the US.
Step 4: Attend interview
Every immigrant applicant for the US must attend an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate where they are applying. The NVC will first make sure that you have submitted all the necessary documents and then will schedule the interview.
Since in this case, the applicant is a child, they may be accompanied by a caretaker. The child will be asked questions about who they are and the officials will determine whether the child can get the IR2 visa.
Step 5: Receive NVC packet and travel to the US.
If the child’s IR2 visa is approved, they can travel to the US freely. The visa will be stamped on their passport and the Embassy will give them a package which the child must bring to the US when they first enter the country. You should not open this package under any circumstances. Only the US immigrant officials at any US point of entry will open it and decide whether the applicant can enter the country or not.
What Are the Fees to Pay For the IR2 Visa?
The main categories of fees that must be paid are as follows:
| Fee Type | Description | Estimated Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-130 Filing Fee | Petition for Alien Relative (filed by the U.S. petitioner) | $535 |
| Form DS-260 Processing Fee | Fee for the immigrant visa application and alien registration | $325 |
| Medical Examination and Vaccination Fees | Required for visa applicants, fees vary by provider | $200 – $500 |
| Translation Fees | Fees for translating documents not in English; varies by volume | $100 – $300 |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | Fee for Green Card production after visa issuance | $220 |
| Total Estimated Cost | $1,380 – $1,880+ | |
How Long is the IR2 Visa Processing Time?
The processing time can take from 3 to 12 months, depending on the individual circumstances. Since the IR2 visa does not have annual caps, the processing times are also much shorter than the Family Preference Visas.
Other Types of Immediate Relative Visas
- IR1 visa for the spouse of a US citizen
- IR3 and IR4 adoption visas.
- IR5 visa for parents of a US citizen who is at least 21 years old.