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The Second Preference category is split into two subcategories: 2A is reserved for the spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of permanent residents, and 2B is reserved for unmarried children age 21 or over. There is always a backlog. The waiting period for most 2A applicants has recently been about three years, and over nine years for 2B applicants. The backlogs are even longer for applicants from Mexico and the Philippines. Note that this category is reserved for petitioners who have lawful permanent resident ("green card") status. After a certain period of time (usually three to five years) a permanent resident has the option to seek naturalization, i.e., become a U.S. citizen. In some cases it may be in the interest of the permanent resident to seek citizenship in order to petition for certain relatives and avoid the long delays in the Second Preference category.
U.S. Immigration Laws