US Family Visas

Family Preference visas are granted to Canadian citizens with more distant, specific, familial relationships with U.S. citizens or who have certain specified relationships with any lawful permanent residents. Unlike the Immediate Relative immigrant visas, there is a specific number of Family Preference visas that the U.S. government grants each fiscal year. Below are the different types of Family Preference visas:

• F1 Visa (First Family Preference). This visa is granted to unmarried children of U.S. citizens and their children below the age of 21 years, This type of visa has a yearly cap of 23,400 F1 visas granted.
• F2A Visa (Second Family Preference). This visa is granted to the spouses and children (below the age of 21 years) of U.S. citizens. This visa category has a yearly cap of approximately 114,000 visas granted.
• F2B Visa (Second Family Preference). This visa is granted to unmarried children (above the age of 21 years) of U.S. legal permanent residents. Around 30% of Family Second Preference visas are allocated to this visa category, making it more difficult to secure.
• F3 Visa (Third Family Preference). This visa is granted to married children of U.S. citizens, their spouses, and their children who are below the age of 21 years old. This category of visa has an annual cap of 23,400 F3 visas granted.
• F4 Visa (Fourth Family Preference). This visa is granted to the siblings of U.S. citizens who are above the age of 21 years old, their spouses, and children(minor). This category of visas has a yearly cap of 65,000 F4 visas granted.

Note that it is more difficult to acquire a family-based immigrant visa compared to a non-immigrant visa. The application process is extensive, and it takes longer to be granted an immigrant visa.

Canadian citizens with relatives in the United States have the option to enter the U.S. through family-based non-immigrant visas temporarily. Holders of non-immigrant visas can visit the U.S. for specific purposes such as education, employment, business, or medical purposes. This is a viable path into the United States if you are a Canadian citizen who is seeking a faster relocation process.

If you hold a non-immigrant visa, you are not allowed to reside permanently in the United States. These types of visas are granted for a specific duration with a pre-set departure/expiry date. However, you can pursue other immigrant options once you are in the United States. Below are the different types of non-immigrant U.S. family visas for Canadian citizens:

• K1 Visa (Fiance Visa). If you are engaged to a U.S. citizen, you are eligible for the K1 visa. The K1 visa is granted for a period of 90 days. You are expected to get married to your fiance in the U.S. during this period of time after which you may then start filing your petition for a CR1 spouse visa.
•  K2 Visa (Children of K1 Visa Holders). This type of U.S. family visa is granted to the unmarried children of a K1 visa holder. The unmarried children must be below the age of 21 years old.
• K3 Visa (Spouse of a Green Card Holder). This visa category was created to reduce the amount of time a married couple spends apart from each other as one partner waits for the approval of their alien relative petition. The K3 visa enables the Canadian spouse to live in the United States as the petition is being processed.
• K4 Visa (Children of K3 Visa Holders). The U.S. government grants this type of visa to the unmarried sons and daughters of K3 visa holders. The sons and daughters must be below the age of 21 years old.

As a K3 visa holder, you can change your immigration status or pursue permanent residency once you are in the U.S. You can travel to and from the U.S. during the active duration of the visa. In case the marriage ends, you will have to leave the U.S. within 30 days.