F1 and F2B have dates that are very close in the Bulletin. Why?

The United States immigration system has several family visa categories, each with its own particularities in terms of eligibility, numerical limits, and processing times. In the context of Family Based visas, categories F1 and F2B refer, respectively, to unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens (F1) and unmarried adult children of permanent residents (F2B).

The reason why the dates for these two groups often appear very close in the Visa Bulletin is related to several factors. First, both categories have a relatively high demand, which causes the number of applications to be very close to the annual limit set by Congress. When the number of requests approaches this ceiling, the advancement of dates tends to be slow, and priority dates reflect this supply and demand dynamic.

Additionally, the retrogression process – when there is an adjustment in dates due to an accumulation of applications – can affect categories with similar numbers, resulting in dates that come close together on the calendar. It is also worth highlighting that each category undergoes regular analyses and adjustments based on administrative variables such as the number of cases processed, the availability of visa slots, and changes in immigration policy.

Thus, even though the eligibility criteria are different, the behavior of the available visa numbers tends to align when both categories present a similar volume of applications and a backlog in processing. It is always important to remember that following the dates in the Visa Bulletin closely is necessary to avoid surprises and to have an updated view of the progress of the processes.

If you or someone you know is processing an immigration case, strictly following the laws and regulations of the United States is fundamental. Seek official sources and, if necessary, consult specialized professionals who provide proper guidance for each case, avoiding information from unconfirmed sources or promises of results that cannot be guaranteed.

This understanding helps to visualize why, at certain times, the F1 and F2B categories may show close dates – a characteristic due to the intersection of eligibility criteria with the limited visa availability, always subject to the dynamics of U.S. immigration policies and system demands.

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.