What does "Annotation: * valid only if Acc/FTJ Father/Mother/Spouse" mean?

Question

I got the immigration visa to the US which is valid till August 2007. The principal applicant was my father who is leaving this April as his visa expires on May. I'm gonna follow him to the US on the upcoming July. But it's written on my visa that "Annotation: * valid only if Acc/FTJ Father/Mother/Spouse". Does this necessarily mean that I have to be physically accompanied by my father or is it just that I can follow or join him at a later date? I have contacted the consulate section and they said my travelling alone would be alright. But I still can't be sure if they'll let me enter the US. Can any of you help? It's really an emergency.

Answer 1

FTJ means "follow to join."  (Acc means "accompanying")You simply will need to prove, when you arrive, that your father has already entered the US.  You can do that with a photocopy of his entry stamp and I-94 card, which you should carry with you when you arrive.

No doubt the visa was annotated in that way because your father was not actually domiciled in the US, as is required before your visa could have been issued.  Rather than simply refusing the visa, however, the consul gave you the benefit of being able to enter as specified above, with your father either traveling with you or preceding you and establishing himself in the US just before you arrive.