F4 Visas for Siblings

What is F4 Visa

The F4 Visa is a family-based immigrant visa that allows U.S. citizens to sponsor their brothers or sisters (and their spouse and minor children) for lawful permanent residence (green card) in the United States. The petitioner (U.S. citizen sponsor) must be at least 21 years old. The F4 visa falls under the Fourth Family Preference Category and is subject to annual caps, which often result in long waiting periods, especially for countries with high demand.

F4 Visa Requirements

To qualify for an F4 Visa, the following requirements must be met:

• U.S. Citizenship
  The petitioner must be a U.S. citizen (not a green card holder) and at least 21 years of age.

• Proof of Sibling Relationship
  Valid documentation such as birth certificates showing at least one common parent is required.

• Form I-130 Petition
  The U.S. citizen must file Form I-130 with USCIS to begin the process of sponsoring their sibling.

• Affidavit of Support
  The petitioner must agree to financially support the sibling by filing Form I-864, showing they meet the income threshold.

• Background and Medical Checks
  The sibling and eligible family members must pass criminal, security, and medical examinations.

• Visa Cap Limitations
  Since this is a preference category visa, it is subject to visa bulletin waiting times, especially for nationals of countries like India, Mexico, and the Philippines.

F4 Visa Process

The F4 visa process follows these major steps:

1. File Form I-130
   The U.S. citizen sponsor submits Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) to USCIS along with required documentation and fees.

2. USCIS Petition Review
   Once approved, the petition is forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC). However, due to annual limits, the applicant must wait for a visa number to become available (see the Visa Bulletin).

3. Visa Bulletin and Priority Date
   The priority date (filing date of I-130) must become current before proceeding with immigrant visa processing.

4. Consular Processing
   When the priority date becomes current, the NVC will collect additional documents (e.g., civil documents, Affidavit of Support) and schedule an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

5. Immigrant Visa Interview
   The applicant attends the interview, where they must demonstrate eligibility and admissibility.

6. Immigrant Visa Issuance and Entry
   Once approved, the applicant receives an immigrant visa to enter the U.S. and is granted permanent resident status upon arrival.

F4 Visa Processing Time

The F4 visa typically has one of the longest processing times among family-based categories due to high demand and strict annual limits:

• Form I-130 Processing:
  Initial approval by USCIS can take 6 to 12 months.

• Visa Bulletin Wait Time:
  Depending on the applicant’s country of origin, the wait for the priority date to become current can take 15 to 20 years or more.

• NVC and Interview:
  Once the priority date is current, it may take an additional 6 to 12 months to complete document processing and schedule an interview.

Note:
Countries like India, Mexico, China, and the Philippines often have significantly longer wait times due to high demand and per-country caps.