Apply for a U.S. visa for a citizen's unmarried child (F1) in Kosovo

$325 per immigrant, paid to the NVC, and $120 for the Affidavit of Support review when it is reviewed domestically. Your U.S. citizen parent pays USCIS $675 for the I-130, or $625 online.^2,7

An unmarried son or daughter, 21 or older, of a U.S. citizen, with their children. Unmarried and under 21 you are a child, and your visa is IR2; if you marry before the visa is issued, your case becomes F3 and keeps its priority date.^5,30,31

Yes, F1 is limited each year. Only applicants whose priority date, the day the petition was filed, is earlier than the Visa Bulletin’s final action date for F1 can get the visa now; Kosovo is in the column for all countries not listed.^6,5,32,33

Yes. F1 is for unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens and their children, and your children get the same status and the same place in line when they come with you or follow to join you.^5,32,31

IR (immediate relative) is for the spouse, the unmarried child under 21, or the parent of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21; their number is not limited. CR is the spouse's visa when you have been married less than 2 years. F (family preference) is for more distant relatives of a U.S. citizen and some relatives of a permanent resident; their number is limited each year.^33,34,35

A U.S. citizen, for a spouse, son or daughter, parent, or brother or sister. A permanent resident, only for a spouse or an unmarried son or daughter.³³

For immediate relatives (IR) a visa is always available. In limited categories (F) you wait for a visa number: the wait depends on your priority date, the day the petition was filed, posted monthly in the Visa Bulletin. After that, the time varies from case to case.^4,6,35

Usually with a petition. A U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative files Form I-130, or a U.S. employer files Form I-140, with USCIS. USCIS must approve it before your case moves to the National Visa Center (NVC).³⁶

USCIS sends your case to the National Visa Center (NVC). NVC creates it and sends you a Welcome Letter, with which you log in to CEAC. There you pay the fees and submit the forms and documents, and NVC reviews them before an interview can be scheduled. In categories with a yearly limit, you wait until a visa number is available for your priority date, the day the petition was filed.⁶

$325 per person: the immigrant visa application processing fee, paid to NVC for each immigrant of any age, and not refundable. The Affidavit of Support review is $120 when it is reviewed in the United States. The I-130 petition is paid to USCIS, and the medical examination separately.^2,35

A birth certificate, marriage and divorce certificates, and police certificates if you are 16 or older. They must be issued by the official authority in your country. Documents not in English, or in the official language of the country where you apply, need a certified translation.^16,17

A form the petitioner signs to accept financial responsibility for you. The sponsor must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and live in the United States, and for most sponsors the income must reach 125% of the poverty guidelines. If it does not, a joint sponsor can also sign one.^12,37

You, the principal applicant, at any age, and each family member immigrating with you who is at least 14 on the day of the interview. A family member with their own case number attends at any age. Your petitioner does not need to attend.¹⁸

On the State Department’s Visa Status Check, at ceac.state.gov. Choose your visa type, then enter your passport number and the first five letters of your surname.³⁸

No. Any claim that someone can guarantee a visa is fraudulent. A consular officer decides at the interview whether you qualify.³⁹