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  • Family
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      • Provisional Waiver
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      • V Visa
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  2. Family
  3. Family of Green Card Holders (Permanent Residents)
  4. V Nonimmigrant Visas

V Nonimmigrant Visas

The V visa is a nonimmigrant visa created to allow families to stay together while waiting for the processing of immigrant visas.

Eligibility Criteria

If you are a permanent resident (Green Card holder), your spouse, child (unmarried and under 21), or the child of your spouse (your step-child) may be eligible for a V visa if:

  • You filed Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for your family member on or before December 21, 2000. This includes children (unmarried and under 21) listed on the petition.
  • The family member has been waiting at least 3 years since you filed the Form I-130.
  • The immigrant visa is not available on an approved Form I-130 petition OR the application to adjust status is pending OR the petition for an immigrant visa is pending.

Application Process

If your family member is inside the United States, you file:

  • Form I-539, Application to Change Nonimmigrant Status, and Supplement A (PDF, 383.38 KB) and 
  • Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.

If your family member is outside the United States:

  • He or she must go through consular processing. For more information, see the Nonimmigrant (V) Visa for Spouse and Children of a Lawful Permanent Resident page. For more information on consular processing overseas, see the Consular Processing page.

Related Links

More Information

  • "How Do I" Guides for Permanent Residents

Forms

  • I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
  • I-864, Affidavit of Support
  • Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Other USCIS Links

  • Green Card (Permanent Residence)
  • Green Card for a Family Member of a U.S. Citizen
  • Visa Availability & Priority Dates
  • Adjustment of Status
  • Consular Processing
  • Check Processing Times
  • Military
  • In-Country Refugee/Parole Processing for Central American Minors

External Links

  • Visa Bulletin
Last Reviewed/Updated:
07/17/2015
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