The Impact of a Family Member’s Immigration Process on an F1 Visa Application

Hello everyone, I have a few questions and would greatly appreciate your insights!
1. If I have an immediate family member who is currently processing immigration (having filed an I-140), will that result in my F1 visa being denied?
2. If my family member is working with Wegreened on the immigration process but has not yet filed the I-140, will the visa officer be aware of my family member’s immigration intent? (I think this is unlikely, but I wanted to ask.)
3. Once my family member has filed the I-140, can that family member and my other relatives use their existing B1/B2 visas to enter the United States? Will they be denied entry? Additionally, if I leave the United States and then attempt to re-enter on an F1 visa, will I be denied entry?

Thank you all so much for answering my questions—I truly appreciate it!

Hi there! Great questions—happy to help based on my experience working in an International Student Office.

  1. Not necessarily. An I-140 shows their immigrant intent, not yours. As long as you clearly demonstrate your non-immigrant intent and ties to your home country, your F1 can still be approved.

  2. Unlikely. Until the I-140 is officially filed, there’s no public immigration record to review. Visa officers usually won’t have access to any preliminary consultations like those with Wegreened.

  3. It depends. Having an I-140 may raise questions at the border, especially for B1/B2 visitors. They must still show intent to return home. For you on F1, the same applies—you need to demonstrate non-immigrant intent when re-entering. It’s case-by-case, but many people are still able to enter successfully with proper documentation and clear explanations.

Hope this helps!

— Jill