F4 Visa: How to Sponsor a Sibling for a Green Card

The F4 visa lets a U.S. citizen who is 21 or older sponsor a brother or sister for a Green Card.

The filing process itself is manageable and may not take very long, but families need to plan around the wait time for an available F4 visa, which is often 16 to 25 years, depending on which country the foreign sibling is from.

The best way to minimize delays is to understand the process from the start and to submit an accurate and complete F4 visa petition as soon as possible.

🧑‍💼 Curious about the Green Card process for families? Manifest Law’s experienced attorneys have helped thousands of immigrants and their families secure their future in the U.S. Learn more about family Green Card lawyer options.

What is the F4 visa?

The F4 visa is a family-based Green Card category that lets a U.S. citizen sponsor their foreign-born sibling to become a lawful permanent resident.

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) caps the F4 category at 65,000 Green Cards per fiscal year, plus the number of Green Cards left unused by the first three family preferences (F1, F2, and F3).

Because demand vastly exceeds that cap, F4 carries the longest wait of any family-based category.

📘 Visa vs. Green Card: An immigrant visa allows you to travel to and live in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident. A Green Card is an identification document that proves you have received lawful permanent resident status. When a sibling applies for an F4 visa, they’re applying for an immigrant visa under the fourth preference category for family Green Cards. Read more about visas vs. Green Cards.

Who can file an F4 petition?

Only a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old can petition for a sibling under F4.

Current Green Card holders cannot sponsor a brother or sister under any family category, which is one of the most common points of confusion.

Which siblings qualify for an F4 visa?

A qualifying F4 sibling is a brother or sister who shares at least one parent with the U.S. citizen:

• Biological siblings (including full and half siblings)
• Step siblings
• Adopted siblings

The type of sibling relationship determines the paperwork you need. In general, proving U.S. citizenship of one sibling plus a documented shared-parent relationship are the two pillars of an F4 petition.

The table below summarizes what each side of the case has to prove.

How do you apply for an F4 visa?

The F4 process runs in five stages: the U.S. citizen files the initial petition, the sibling receives a priority date, they wait for that date to become current, they apply for the F4 visa, and then they can enter the U.S. with an approved visa and receive their physical Green Card.

Step-by-step overview of applying for an F4 visa

1. File Form I-130. The U.S. citizen petitioner files Form I-130 with USCIS. They attach proof of their U.S. citizenship and documents establishing the sibling relationship. If USCIS needs more information, it issues a Request for Evidence (RFE) before deciding.
2. Get a priority date. The priority date is the day USCIS receives Form I-130. It fixes the sibling’s place in the F4 line and is the single most important date in the case. Nothing further can happen until that date becomes current on the Visa Bulletin, meaning a visa is available.
3. Wait for a current priority date. The State Department’s Visa Bulletin, published monthly, specifies which priority dates are current for that month. There are two charts to watch on the bulletin: the Dates for Filing chart and the Final Action Dates chart. Each month, USCIS specifies which one applies for that month. Once your priority date is current, you can move forward.
4. Apply for the visa. When the priority date is current, the sibling abroad can apply for an F4 visa by completing either consular processing (Form DS-260) if they live abroad or adjustment of status (Form I-485) if they already live lawfully in the U.S. Both routes generally require additional evidence of eligibility, a medical exam, and an in-person interview.
5. Enter the U.S. and receive a Green Card. Approved consular applicants receive an immigrant visa, allowing them to move to the U.S. They become permanent residents once they enter the country. For consular and adjustment applicants, their physical Green Card will arrive at their U.S. address by mail within a few weeks.

💡 Attorney insight: The single most valuable thing you can do in an F4 case is lock in an accurate priority date as early as possible. Everything downstream, sometimes two decades later, depends on that filing date holding up.

How long does it take to get an F4 visa?

Expect the wait time to get an F4 visa to be roughly 16 to 25 years from filing the initial I-130 petition to receiving a Green Card.

The exact wait depends on the foreign sibling’s country of birth, the annual 65,000-visa limit, and annual per-country limits. The wait is driven almost entirely by the backlog of visa petitions rather than by processing speed.

📅 How can you check the current F4 visa wait time? The best way to check the current wait times for F4 visas is to look at how far the Visa Bulletin’s current priority dates are from the present. See the latest F4 priority dates in Manifest Law’s breakdown of the latest Visa Bulletin.

What documents do you need for an F4 visa?

Different supporting documents are required at different stages of the F4 application process. The checklist below covers what you may need throughout your full case, from the initial petition through visa approval:

• Form I-130: Filed by the petitioner
• Proof of the petitioner’s U.S. citizenship: U.S. birth certificate, passport, or naturalization certificate
• Evidence of the sibling relationship: Birth certificates, adoption records, or parents’ marriage records where relevant
• Filing fees: All filing fees must be paid in full (no installment plans) and are nonrefundable
• The foreign sibling’s passport
• The foreign sibling’s birth certificate
• Parents’ marriage certificate: If needed to prove the relationship
• Police clearance: Necessary for countries in which the foreign sibling has lived
• The foreign sibling’s criminal history records
• Medical exam results
• Form DS-260: Necessary only for consular processing
• Form I-485: Necessary only for adjustment of status
• Form I-864: Affidavit of Support from the petitioner
• Certified translations, apostilles, or authentications: All foreign documents must be translated into English and certified

How much does the F4 visa cost?

Government filing fees for an F4 visa generally range from about $1,000 to $3,000. The cost of an F4 lawyer could add $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your case.

Government filing fees can change over time. Check the USCIS Fee Schedule for the latest fees.

How Manifest Law can help

Because F4 visa wait times can be significant, accuracy at filing and submitting all the correct supporting documents from the start is a necessity. A rejected or mis-documented petition can add months or years to the process.

The family immigration attorneys at Manifest Law understand how to build a strong F4 petition and application packet. They can fill out forms, collect documents, review filings, and help you stay ready throughout the F4 backlog.

👉 Whether you’re considering your options, ready to get started, or just want a second set of eyes on a pending F4 case, request a free consultation with Manifest Law today for personalized guidance.

FAQs about the F4 visa

Can a Green Card holder sponsor a sibling for an F4 visa?

No. Only U.S. citizens can petition for siblings. A lawful permanent resident who wants to sponsor a brother or sister must first naturalize to become eligible.

Can my sibling’s spouse and children immigrate on an F4?

Yes. A spouse and unmarried children under 21 can immigrate as derivative beneficiaries on the same F4 visa petition. In-laws cannot be sponsored directly.

How long is an F4 visa valid?

An approved F4 visa is valid for six months. The sibling must enter the U.S. within that time. Once they enter the U.S., they become a permanent resident and they receive their Green Card in the mail.

Can I travel on an F4 visa?

After the immigrant visa is approved, the sibling may travel to the U.S. to become a permanent resident (Green Card holder). After the Green Card is issued, they have full travel authorization in and out of the U.S. Before approval of the F4, travel depends on your existing immigration status.

Disclaimer. This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it, or contacting Manifest Law through this site, does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration law changes frequently, and the information here is current only as of the publication date. For advice on your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This communication is attorney advertising.