Located in the southeastern United States, Florida is close to many South American countries. Considering that, you might be a parent who wants to bring their child to the United States from another country. First, you’ll need to sponsor your child for an IR-2 visa.
What requirements must a child meet to get an IR-2 visa?
If your child wishes to become a resident of the United States through an IR-2, they’ll need to meet several criteria. Here’s a list of the requirements to obtain an IR-2 visa:
- The sponsor has to be a citizen of the United States.
- The sponsor has had legal custody of the child wanting to become a US resident for at least two years.
- The sponsor lived with the child for at least two years before applying for the latter’s visa.
- The child is not married.
- The child must be younger than 21.
- An adopted child will need to have their adoption finalized before they turn 18.
- If sponsoring a stepchild, this child’s stepparent and biological parent must have wed before the child turned 18.
How long does it take to get an IR-2 visa?
As is the case with most immigration processes, processing the IR-2 visa from start to finish can take quite a while. Expect to wait anywhere from 17 to 24 months before the IR-2 process is complete. If your child turns 21 during the adjudication process, they might still be eligible for sponsorship through the Child Status Protection Act.
The government created the IR-2 visa for children of US citizens with children who live outside this country or have no green card. Since this process can be time-consuming, complete the IR-2 visa application as soon as possible.
