IR2/CR2 Visas: Children
U.S. citizens may apply for IR2/CR2 immigrant visas on behalf of their foreign national children or stepchildren by filing a Form I-130 Immigrant Petition with USCIS. Please note that to qualify for a stepchild relationship, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires that the marriage establishing the relationship take place before the child’s 18th birthday. As a result, a stepchild who was 18 years or older when the petitioner married that child’s birth parent is not eligible for an IR2 visa.
Under certain circumstances, children of a U.S. citizen can apply for U.S. citizenship directly instead of going through the visa process. For more information, check here or contact the American Citizen Services in your Consulate district.