How long does it take to get a child visa approved?

The timeline depends on your immigration status. If you’re a U.S. citizen, your child falls under the immediate relative category. There’s no waiting for a visa number to become available. Most cases are processed within 12 to 18 months from start to finish. Green card holders face longer waits because child visas fall under the F2A preference category. These processing times change based on your child’s country of birth and current visa bulletin numbers. We monitor these timelines closely and can give you realistic expectations for your situation.