V Visas

Purpose:

allows spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 of Lawful Permanent Residents, who have been waiting for more than 3 years for a green card, to come to the U.S. while waiting to file their green card applications

Requirements:

(1) you must be the spouse or unmarried child under the age of 21 of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR);

(2) your LPR spouse or parent must have filed an I-130 petition on your behalf before December 21, 2000; and

(3) the I-130 petition filed on your behalf must have been pending for at least three years

Duration of Visa:

Not Applicable (once in the U.S. you will be able to remain until you are able to apply for your green card)

Description:

The V visa allows you to come to the U.S. if you are the spouse or unmarried child under the age of 21 of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). In order to qualify for a V visa, your LPR spouse or parent must already have started the process for you to obtain a permanent visa (i.e., a green card) before December 21, 2000 by having filed an I-130 petition on your behalf. That petition must be pending for at least 3 years before you can request a V visa. Because the spouses and children of LPR’s must typically wait approximately 4 years or more before being able to apply for a permanent visa, the V visa allows you to come to the U.S. while waiting to apply for a green card. With a V visa you are authorized to work. Individuals already in the U.S., who otherwise qualify, may also apply for V visa status.

Immigration law is often complex in nature with different eligibility and filing requirements. The material on this page and the other pages of this web site is general and for informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice and counsel of an attorney, and you should not rely on it solely when making decisions about your immigration status.

If you would like me to examine your particular situation and assist you in applying for a visa, it is possible to arrange for a consultation by telephone or e-mail.

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