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A complete guide to the F4 visa for siblings of U.S. citizens, including processing times, application process, and required documentation.
David A. Keller, Esq.
The F4 visa, fourth-preference, family-based Green Card category, allows United States citizens to sponsor their brothers and sisters for permanent residence in the U.S.
While the process is straightforward on paper, the biggest challenge is the extremely long wait time, often over 20 years, due to annual limits, per-country caps, and high demand.
The F4 visa is a family-based immigrant visa category established under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) that allows a U.S. citizen who is 21 years of age or older to sponsor siblings for Green Cards.
As its name suggests, it is one of four family preference categories. Other examples of family preference visas include the F1 visa for unmarried children of U.S. citizens and the F2 visa for spouses and children of permanent residents.
Only a set number of visa numbers are issued each fiscal year, and the F4 preference category is extremely limited. In addition, only a certain percentage of these visas can go to each country (known as per-country caps), resulting in a backlog that takes decades to clear. India, Mexico, China, and the Philippines, face particularly high backlogs.
If you apply, you’ll have to check the monthly Visa Bulletin over the years of waiting for visa availability and final action dates.
Eligibility depends on both the petitioner (U.S. citizen) and the beneficiary (the sibling).
The petitioner must:
The sibling (beneficiary) must:
Eligible sibling relationships include:
Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of the sibling may also immigrate as derivative beneficiaries.
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The F4 visa process has multiple steps and requires immense patience due to long backlogs. This is why partnering with experienced legal counsel is critical—you want to make your petition as strong as possible when you file.
The petitioner submits:
USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) reviews the petition. If they can’t make a decision, USCIS may send back a request for evidence (RFE) if it requires additional information or clarification.
The priority date is the day USCIS receives Form I-130.
If your petition is approved, the priority date determines your place in line for an immigrant visa. When your priority date becomes current, you can then apply to adjust your status to get a Green Card.
📘 Your priority date is the day USCIS receives your I-130. Once that date becomes current on the USCIS Visa Bulletin, you’re eligible to move forward with your Green Card application.
Because the F4 category is backlogged, your priority date may not become current for 15 to 20 (or more) years, depending on:
If you’re outside the U.S., once USCIS approves the I-130, the petition moves to the National Visa Center (NVC) for processing. If you’re already in the country on another visa, you should continue to maintain your valid status.
You must monitor the Dates for Filing chart and the Final Action Date chart, because USCIS can choose which chart to use each month in determining current priority dates.
Oftentimes, the Dates for Filing chart moves slightly faster.
The U.S. Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin every month. Often, the bulletin is released around the middle of the preceding month (the March bulletin, for example, is released around February 15).
You might worry that the F4 visa priority dates are not moving. Unfortunately, this is common, especially for applicants from India, Mexico, China, and the Philippines, where backlogs can last as long as 24 years.
Once you’ve waited in the backlog and your priority date becomes current, you must undergo consular processing if you are outside the U.S. or file Form I-485 to adjust your status if you are inside the U.S.
Learn more about the difference between adjustment of status and consular processing.
If the sibling is outside the U.S., you will go to a U.S. consulate to continue the process.
For Green Card consular processing, you will need:
You will undergo an interview at a U.S. embassy or U.S. consulate. At the interview, an immigration officer reviews eligibility and documents.
If the sibling is inside the U.S., they will adjust their status.
The sibling must file:
USCIS then schedules an interview at a local immigration office.
If approved, consular applicants receive an immigrant visa and become lawful permanent residents upon entering the U.S.
Adjustment of status applicants receive their Green Card by mail after approval.
There are many required documents and forms used at different stages for this type of application:
The cost of applying for an F4 will vary depending on your situation and what sort of services (translation, legal, etc.) you need for your petition, but it often includes:
Depending on the circumstances, total expenses can exceed $3,000, before accounting for costs like legal representation.
Because of the long wait times for F4 visas, getting it right the first time matters. Ensuring accuracy at every step is essential to avoid delays in an already slow system.
If you want help reviewing filings, preparing documents, or navigating the F4 backlog, the attorneys at Manifest Law can guide you through the entire process.
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