United States•North AmericaF4 — Family Fourth Preference (F4)
At a Glance
1–26 years
Varies by processing route
USD $1,655–$4,035
Varies by filing options
Indefinite
Renewable
Renewal
Renewable
Family
Not specified
PR Pathway
Yes
Sponsor
No job offer needed
Work
Remote work OK
Living in United States
Overview
Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens (21+), and their spouses and minor children.
The F4 is a US family-based immigrant visa letting citizens aged 21 or older sponsor siblings for a green card. It covers full, half, step, and adoptive siblings, and extends to the sibling's spouse and unmarried children under 21.
Around 65,000 visas issue each fiscal year under a 7% per-country cap, producing backlogs that often exceed a decade. The petitioner files Form I-130 ($625 online) and must meet 125% of the Federal Poverty Guideline via Form I-864. Approval grants permanent residence with full work rights.
This visa is ideal for siblings of US citizens willing to wait many years for permanent family reunification and a green card.
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Cost Breakdown
Processing Time
| I-130 USCIS approval | 1–2 years |
| Total wait — All countries (except below) | 17–18 years |
| Total wait — Philippines | 18–19 years |
| Total wait — India | 19–20 years |
| Total wait — Mexico | 25–26 years |
Stay & Extensions
| Status type | Permanent / indefinite |
Annual Cap & Quota
65,000 visas per fiscal year (plus any numbers unused by F1, F2A, F2B, F3 categories); subject to 7% per-country cap
Requirements
PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS
Petitioner must be a US citizen (not LPR) aged 21 or older
Qualifying sibling relationship: full, half, step (parent married before beneficiary turned 18), or adoptive (adoption finalized before beneficiary turned 16)
Beneficiary must be admissible to the United States
Petitioner must meet 125% Federal Poverty Guideline income requirement (Form I-864)
Derivative beneficiaries (sibling's spouse and unmarried children under 21) may apply concurrently
Petitioner must maintain US citizenship throughout the waiting period
Beneficiary must not be subject to bars to admission (criminal, health, prior violations)
KEY CRITERIA
Min. Income
27,050 USD/yr
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Petitioner's proof of US citizenship (US passport, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate)
Birth certificates for both petitioner and beneficiary proving shared parentage
Marriage certificate(s) for step-sibling relationship (proving marriage occurred before beneficiary turned 18)
Adoption decree (for adoptive sibling relationship, finalized before age 16)
Beneficiary's valid passport
Beneficiary's birth certificate (long form, original or certified copy)
Police certificates from every country where beneficiary lived 6+ months after age 16
Marriage certificate and divorce/death certificates for all prior marriages (if applicable)
Court and prison records (if applicable)
Military service records (if applicable)
Medical examination results from embassy-approved physician (sealed envelope)
Two passport-style photographs
Form I-864 Affidavit of Support with supporting financial documents
Certified translations of all non-English documents
Advantages & Considerations
Key Benefits
- Leads directly to Lawful Permanent Resident (green card) status — no conditional period
- Derivative beneficiaries (spouse and unmarried children under 21) may immigrate concurrently
- Full and unrestricted work authorization immediately upon green card issuance
- Qualifying to apply for US citizenship after 5 years as LPR
- Green card valid for 10 years and renewable indefinitely
- Permanent residents can sponsor their own immediate relatives
Worth Knowing
- Extremely long wait times — among the longest of any US visa category (15–25+ years)
- Mexico and Philippines have the most severe backlogs due to per-country caps
- India backlog approximately 19–20 years from filing date
- Pending I-130 approval does not grant any US immigration status, work authorization, or travel rights
- Petitioner must remain a US citizen throughout the entire waiting period
- Annual numerical cap of 65,000 visas (plus spillover) creates systemic backlogs
- Beneficiary's circumstances must remain consistent — marriage or children born after filing may require amendments
- Aging-out risk for derivative children if wait extends past their 21st birthday (Child Status Protection Act may apply)
- Longest family backlog
Application Process
US citizen petitioner files Form I-130 with USCIS (online or paper); priority date established on this date
USCIS approves I-130 (12–24+ months); case forwarded to National Visa Center (NVC)
Monitor monthly DOS Visa Bulletin — wait for priority date to become current (15–25 years typical)
NVC notifies parties when priority date is approaching; pay NVC fees ($325 IV + $120 AOS review) via CEAC portal
Beneficiary completes Form DS-260 online immigrant visa application through CEAC portal
Upload all civil documents to NVC for review; NVC declares case documentarily complete
Schedule and complete medical examination with embassy-approved physician
Attend consular interview at US embassy/consulate; officer reviews documents and admissibility
Pay $235 USCIS immigrant fee online after visa approval
Enter the United States as a Lawful Permanent Resident; green card mailed within 30 to 90 days of entry
Application Forms
| I-130 Petition for Alien Relative | Fill online |
| DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application | Fill online |
| I-864 Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA | Fill online |
| I-693 Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record | Fill online |
| I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | Fill online |
| I-765 Application for Employment Authorization | Fill online |
| I-131 Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records | Fill online |
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