QUICK QUESTIONS

The F2A visa category is a family-sponsored immigrant visa petition that may be filed by a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  Spouses and minor children of LPRs fall under the F2A visa category.

IR1/IR2 visa categories are for spouses/minor children of a U.S. Citizen.

Visa Category Conversion: When Does It Happen?

Visa category conversions happen when there are changes in certain personal circumstances of petitioners or beneficiaries.

F2A – IR1/IR2 Conversion

When an LPR petitioner becomes a U.S. citizen through naturalization, this will result in the automatic visa reclassification of the petition.  The original F2A visa petition filed on behalf of a spouse will be converted to the immediate relative immigrant visa category – IR1.  The same holds true for the petitioned minor child wherein the original F2A visa petition will be converted to the IR2 category.  However, if the child does not have a separate F2A visa petition filed on his/her behalf and was just listed as a derivative beneficiary under the principal applicant parent’s original F2A petition, the child will no longer be able to derive benefits from the petition.  A Form I-130 (IR2) visa petition would have to be filed on the child’s behalf with the USCIS.