F4 Visa: How U.S. Citizens Can Sponsor a Brother or Sister for a Green Card

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.

What is the F4 visa?

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.

Who is eligible for the F4 visa?

Eligibility depends on both the petitioner (U.S. citizen) and the beneficiary (the sibling).

Eligibility for the U.S. citizen petitioner

The petitioner must:

• Be a U.S. citizen (Green Card holders cannot petition for brothers or sisters at all)
• Be 21 years of age or older
• Provide proof of citizenship, such as a U.S. passport, U.S. birth certificate, or naturalization certificate
• Be able to show a sibling relationship with the beneficiary

Eligibility for the sibling (principal applicant)

The sibling (beneficiary) must:

• Be a brother or sister as defined by the INA
• Provide birth certificates or family records to prove the same parents
• Submit all required documents during the immigrant visa process
• Pass background checks, including criminal history record reviews

Eligible sibling relationships include: 

• Full siblings
• Half-siblings, but if you have different mothers, you must have copies of the marriage certificate of your father to each mother, as well as proof that any earlier marriages of your father or mothers were legally terminated
• Step-siblings, with proof that your parents were married before the sibling was 18 and all the parents’ earlier marriages were legally terminated
• Adopted siblings (if the adoption occurred before age 16)

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of the sibling may also immigrate as derivative beneficiaries.

F4 visa application process

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. Request a consultation with Manifest today if you have more questions.

1. The U.S. citizen files Form I-130

The petitioner submits:

• Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
• Proof of U.S. citizenship
• Birth certificates and other necessary documentation showing the sibling relationship
• Required filing fee ($675 for paper filing, $625 for online filing)

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.

2. Receive your priority date

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:

• The sibling’s country of birth
• Annual visa limits
• Visa demand worldwide

3. Track your place in line with the F4 Visa Bulletin

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.

4. Immigrant visa application or adjustment of status

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.

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: 

• Visa application form (DS-260)
• NVC fee payments ($325 for the immigrant visa application fee and $120 for the affidavit of support fee)
• Required documentation to upload
• Medical exam documentation

You will undergo an interview at a U.S. embassy or U.S. consulate. At the interview, an immigration officer reviews eligibility and documents.

Adjustment of status

If the sibling is inside the U.S., they will adjust their status.

The sibling must file: 

• Form I-485 (adjustment of status)
• Supporting evidence and immigration medical exam
• Adjustment of status fee, usually $1,440 (by mail) or $1,390 (online)

USCIS then schedules an interview at a local immigration office.

5. Receive the immigrant visa or Green Card

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.

Checklist of forms and documents needed for the F4 visa

There are many required documents and forms used at different stages for this type of application:

• Form I-130 (filed by petitioner)
• Proof of the petitioner’s U.S. citizenship
• Petitioner’s U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, or naturalization certificate
• Proof of sibling relationship (birth certificates, adoption records, or marriage certificates from parents)
• Filing fees
• Sibling’s passport
• Sibling’s birth certificate
• Marriage certificate of parents (if applicable)
• Police clearance and criminal history record
• Medical exam results
• DS-260 immigrant visa application if doing consular processing
• Affidavit of Support (I-864) from the petitioner if doing consular processing
• Any required authentications or apostille documents

How much does the F4 visa cost?

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: 

• Form I-130 filing fee: $675 for paper filing, $625 for online filing
• NVC fees: $325 for the immigrant visa application fee and $120 for the affidavit of support fee
• Medical exam: varies by country
• USCIS fees for adjustment of status if applying inside the U.S.: $1,440 (by mail) or $1,390 (online) in most cases
• Costs for translations, apostille, and authentications

Depending on the circumstances, total expenses can exceed $3,000, before accounting for costs like legal representation.

How Manifest Law can help

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. Request a free consultation to get personalized support.

F4 visa FAQs

How long will it take to get an F4 visa?

The F4 visa processing time (including waiting for your priority date to be current) often ranges from 16 to over 20 years, though it varies by country.

Can I apply for an F4 visa as a Green Card holder?

No. Only U.S. citizens may petition for siblings.

Can my in-laws and their children also be sponsored?

A U.S. citizen cannot sponsor in-laws directly. However, once your sibling becomes a lawful permanent resident, they may later sponsor a spouse and unmarried children under 21.

What is a priority date for the F4 visa?

The priority date is the date USCIS receives Form I-130. Check the monthly Visa Bulletin for current F4 priority dates.

How long is the F4 visa valid for?

The immigrant visa issued after consular processing is valid for six months, although the expiration date of your medical examination takes precedence and could expire sooner. Once the sibling enters the U.S., they become a lawful permanent resident and receive a Green Card.

Can an F4 visa lead to permanent residency?

Yes, an F4 visa grants the holder a Green Card (permanent residency card).

Can I travel on an F4 visa?

Once the sibling’s immigrant visa is approved, the sibling may travel to the U.S. to become a permanent resident. Visa holders can travel in and out of the U.S. until the F4 visa expires. Before approval, travel eligibility depends on their current visa status. After you receive your Green Card, you have travel authorization.