What is aging out?
Quick Answer
Aging out means a child turns 21 and no longer qualifies as a 'child' for immigration purposes.
Detailed Explanation
In U.S. immigration law, a 'child' is an unmarried person under 21 years old. When someone turns 21, they 'age out' and their immigration category changes or they may lose eligibility entirely. Common scenarios: (1) F2A child of permanent resident turns 21 → drops to F2B (much longer wait), (2) Derivative child on F3/F4 turns 21 → becomes ineligible as derivative, (3) Child beneficiary of I-130 turns 21 → moves from IR2 to F1. CSPA law helps protect some children from this by 'freezing' their age calculation. If you're close to age 21 with a pending case, use CSPA Calculator immediately to know your status.
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