Family wrapped in American flag looking at bridge, immigration for better life

A family visa, also known as a family-based immigrant visa, is a special permit that lets you reunite with your family in another country. To obtain one, you must have a family member like a spouse, parent, sibling, or child already living in that foreign country.

In the United States, laws let certain people who are not U.S. citizens but are family members of U.S. citizens or permanent residents become permanent residents themselves and get a green card. The spouse, young child, or parent of a U.S. citizen are all eligible to apply for a family visa.

RapidVisa specializes in family immigration. Since 2009, we've helped tens of thousands of families reunite in the United States.

There are several types of family visas we assist with. Here are the 5 most common types:

K1 Fiancé Visa - The K-1 Fiancé Visa lets the foreign partner of a U.S. citizen legally come to the United States. After getting married, they can apply for a green card based on their marriage.
IR2 Child Visa - An IR-2 Visa is a special visa for kids of U.S. citizens. The "IR" means "Immediate Relative," and "2" is just the second type of this visa.This visa is for children under 21 years old who are either the natural or adopted children of a U.S. citizen. It allows these children come to the U.S. and become permanent residents (obtain a green card) when they arrive.
CR1/IR1 Spousal Visa – A Conditional Resident Visa (CR1) lets someone married to a U.S. citizen for less than two years move to the U.S. and become a permanent resident. However, their permanent resident status comes with some conditions.– An Immediate Relative Visa (IR1) lets someone married to a U.S. citizen for more than two years move to the U.S. and become a full permanent resident without any conditions.
IR5 Parent Visa – An Immediate Relative Visa (IR5) is for parents of U.S. citizens who are 21 years of age or older. It allows parents to enter the United States as lawful permanent residents (green card holders).
K-3 Spousal Visa – The K-3 Spousal Visa isintended to allow spouses of U.S. citizens to enter the United States temporarily while they wait to process their immigrant visa (IR-1 or CR-1) petitions.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the requirements for a family visa? 

  • You must have a family member in the U.S. who is either a citizen or a permanent resident (green card holder) to support your application.
  • You need to have a recognized family relationship with the citizen, like being their spouse, child, parent, or sibling.
  • They have to file a petition for you with U.S. immigration authorities.
  • If your petition is approved, it proves your family relationship.
  • You can then apply for a visa at your home country’s U.S. Embassy or consulate.
  • You might be required to attend an interview and undergo a medical evaluation.
  • Your U.S. family members might need to show they can support you financially.
  • If everything goes well, you'll get the visa to enter the U.S.
  • When you arrive in the U.S., checks will be made at the entry point.

What do I need for a family visa in the Philippines?

Here's how you can get a family visa to the U.S. from the Philippines:

  • A family member who's a U.S. citizen or permanent resident starts by submitting a request to the U.S. government. This request shows that there's a real family connection.
  • If the request is approved, it means your family connection is recognized.
  • Your case gets sent to the National Visa Center (NVC). They'll give instructions to your family member/s in the U.S. and to you in the Philippines. These instructions will include details about fees and documents.
  • You'll need to pay specific fees, including the visa application fee and, if needed, the Affidavit of Support fee.
  • You'll have to fill out some forms for your visa application. These forms are usually available online.
  • You might need to go for a medical checkup with a specific doctor chosen by the U.S. government. They'll send your medical results to the U.S. embassy or consulate.
  • You'll schedule an interview at the U.S. Embassy or consulate in the Philippines. A U.S. official will talk to you to decide if they will approve your visa.
  • During the interview, bring all the documents they request, like your passport, photos, birth certificates, and more. If your U.S. family member has to show they can support you financially, they'll need to do that.
  • If everything goes well, they'll give you the visa, and you can come to the U.S.

How much is a family visa to the U.S.?

  • The fees for family visas to the United States vary depending on the specific visa category and the type of relationship between the petitioner (the U.S. citizen or permanent resident family member) and the beneficiary (the family member seeking the visa). These fees are subject to change, so you must check the official U.S. Department of State website or the U.S. embassy or consulate website for the most up-to-date fee information.

Here are the fees for family-based immigration visas to the United States:

I-130 Petition Fee: This is the cost to file the first form, called Form I-130. It's needed to prove the family relationship. Right now, it's $535.

Visa Application Fee: When you apply for a visa at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country, there's usually a fee. The amount varies depending on the type of visa but can be between $160 and $265 or more.

Affidavit of Support Fee: If the U.S. family member has to submit a financial support form (Form I-864), there might be a fee for that too. Currently, it's $120.