Chapter 06 · Topic 06.7 · Green card / Citizenship
Family preferences F1-F4 (Canadians): queues, CSPA, Visa Bulletin
5 quota-bound family preferences. F1/F2A/F2B/F3/F4. Worldwide cap 226,000 IV/yr. Per-country 7%. Canada queues moderate except F4 (~17 yrs). CSPA protects aging-out children.
Direct answer · 60-second summary
The 60-second version
The family preferences (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4) are the 5 family-immigration categories subject to annual caps and queues, unlike immediate relatives (IR-1, IR-2, IR-5) which have no queue. Annual worldwide family preference cap: 226,000 IVs (2026), INA §201(c). Per-country cap: 7% of worldwide. The 5 categories:
- F1: unmarried adult children (≥ 21) of US citizens.
- F2A: spouse and unmarried children < 21 of LPR.
- F2B: unmarried adult children (≥ 21) of LPR.
- F3: married children (any age) of US citizens.
- F4: siblings of US citizens (sponsor ≥ 21).
Queues as of January 1, 2026 (DOS Visa Bulletin): F1 and F2B ~7-9 yrs, F3 ~14 yrs, F4 ~16-18 yrs (Canada). F2A near current for most countries.
Acronyms used in this guide
- USCIS — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- DOS — U.S. Department of State
- INA — Immigration and Nationality Act
- I-130 — Petition for Alien Relative
- I-485 — Application to Register Permanent Residence (Adjustment of Status)
- DS-260 — Online Immigrant Visa Application
- CSPA — Child Status Protection Act
- LPR — Lawful Permanent Resident
- PR — Permanent Resident (green card holder)
- PD — Priority Date
- NVC — National Visa Center
- EB-1 — Employment-Based 1st preference
- EB-2 — Employment-Based 2nd preference
- EB-3 — Employment-Based 3rd preference
Summary table
| Cat. | Sponsor | Beneficiary | Annual cap | Canada queue (Jan 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | USC | Unmarried child ≥ 21 | 23,400 | ~7-9 yrs |
| F2A | LPR | Spouse, unmarried child < 21 | 87,900 (variable) | ~2-3 yrs (sometimes current) |
| F2B | LPR | Unmarried child ≥ 21 | 26,300 (variable) | ~7-9 yrs |
| F3 | USC | Married child (any age) | 23,400 | ~14 yrs |
| F4 | USC ≥ 21 | Sibling | 65,000 | ~16-18 yrs |
Annual allocations (INA §203(a))
- Total family preference: 226,000 IV/yr (FY 2026, INA §201(c)(1)).
- F1: 23,400 + any residual from F4.
- F2 (combined): 114,200 + any residual other 7% over.
- F2A: 77% of F2 = ~87,900.
- F2B: 23% of F2 = ~26,300.
- F3: 23,400 + residual from F1 and F2.
- F4: 65,000 + residual from F1, F2, F3.
- Per-country cap: 7% of worldwide total (FB + EB) = ~25,620/country/year. Canada limit very loose because Canada doesn't consume its quota.
Priority Date (PD) and Visa Bulletin
The Priority Date (PD) is the I-130 filing date. It compares monthly to the Final Action Dates on the DOS Visa Bulletin. When PD is before the Visa Bulletin date → visa becomes available.
Two charts per month:
- Final Action Dates: date USCIS can approve an I-485 or consular IV.
- Dates for Filing: date you can file the I-485 or DS-260 (in advance, speeds prep).
USCIS announces monthly which of the two charts is used for AOS filing.
CSPA: Child Status Protection Act
- For F1, F2A, F2B, F3 categories: if the child turns 21 during the queue, they "age out" of F2A into F2B (or worse).
- The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) of 2002 partially protects.
- CSPA formula: biological age − time I-130 was pending at USCIS = CSPA age.
- If CSPA age < 21 at visa availability AND child seeks to acquire within 1 year, they keep the original category.
- Typical: F2A petition filed for 19-yo child, 5-yr queue, child is 24 bio but 21 CSPA if I-130 took 3 yrs to approve.
For Canadians
- Canada queues moderate except F4 (siblings ~16-18 yrs).
- If LPR sponsor (F2A, F2B), becoming USC speeds things up: F2A flips to IR-1, F2B to F1 (slightly faster category).
- Marriage of child during F2A/F2B queue = loss of category (moves to F1 or F3 if parent USC; otherwise lost).
- Always file I-130 ASAP on eligibility to lock the PD as early as possible.
Formulaires officiels (toujours utiliser la dernière édition)
Responsabilité du lecteur
Toujours télécharger la dernière édition du formulaire depuis le site officiel cité ci-dessous. Une édition expirée peut être rejetée par USCIS, DOS ou IRS. CanadaFlorida ne se substitue pas à un avocat licencié.
Every figure, rate, threshold, and deadline in this guide is drawn from a verifiable primary source listed at the bottom of the page. The article is updated whenever the underlying rules change, with a fresh review date stamped at the top.
Sources and references
Public sources verified as of the last review date.
- INA §201(c) — Worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrants. cornell.edu/§1151
- INA §203(a) — Allocation of immigrant visas: family-sponsored preferences. cornell.edu/§1153
- DOS Visa Bulletin January 2026. travel.state.gov/jan2026
- USCIS Policy Manual Volume 7 — Adjustment of Status (CSPA). uscis.gov/policy/cspa
- Child Status Protection Act, Pub. L. 107-208 (2002). congress.gov/cspa
Disclaimer
This guide is for educational purpose only. Figures, rates, thresholds, timelines and rules are drawn from public sources at the date shown and may change.
For any concrete decision, consult a licensed US immigration attorney and a cross-border tax attorney.