Why do the F categories have waiting lists?

The United States Family Based visa F categories, which include various subcategories for more distant relatives, have waiting lists due to the annual visa limits set by law. This means that, even though there are many people eligible for family reunification, the legislation establishes a fixed quota for these types of petitions, which results in a backlog when the demand exceeds the number of available slots.

Each petition receives a ”priority date”-the date the process is filed-that determines the order of processing. Because the number of visas issued each year is limited, cases are processed according to the priority date and visa availability, which can lead to long waiting periods in certain categories.

Factors such as high international demand and the particularities of each subcategory (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, and F4) also contribute to significant variations in waiting times. In addition, changes in immigration policies or shifts in global demand can influence these timelines, which underscores the importance of monitoring updates to the rules and the visa bulletins released by the U.S. government.

Strictly following immigration laws and consulting official sources or qualified experts-avoiding scams and unfounded promises of guaranteed results-is essential to maintain realistic expectations and ensure the integrity of your process. Staying well informed and always consulting official legal sources is the safest way to understand and follow immigration procedures, protecting your rights and avoiding future complications.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.