United States•North America1-2 years
4,660 USD
Indefinite
Yes
Not Required
Not Specified
Available
Allowed
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.
Form I-130 filing fee (online) | 625 USD |
Form I-130 filing fee (paper) | 675 USD |
NVC immigrant visa application processing fee (DS-260) | 325 USD |
NVC affidavit of support review fee (I-864) | 120 USD |
USCIS immigrant fee (paid after visa approval) | 235 USD |
Medical examination (consular processing) | 350 USD |
Form I-485 (adjustment of status, if in US) | 1,440 USD |
Form I-765 filing fee (concurrent with pending I-485) | 260 USD |
Form I-131 filing fee (concurrent with pending I-485) | 630 USD |
| I-130 USCIS approval | 1 year – 2 years |
| Total wait — All countries (except below) | 17 years – 18 years |
| Total wait — Philippines | 18 years – 19 years |
| Total wait — India | 19 years – 20 years |
| Total wait — Mexico | 25 years – 26 years |
| Status type | Permanent / indefinite |
65,000 visas per fiscal year (plus any numbers unused by F1, F2A, F2B, F3 categories); subject to 7% per-country cap
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)
Education
none or higher
Min. Income
27,050 EUR/yr
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
| 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 |
| Annual Allocation | 65,000 visas per fiscal year (plus any numbers unused by F1, F2A, F2B, F3 categories); subject to 7%… | uscis.gov |
| Application Steps | US citizen petitioner files Form I-130 with USCIS (online or paper); priority date established on th… | uscis.gov |
| Blockers | Longest family backlog | travel.state.gov |
| Can Convert To | — | travel.state.gov |
| Categories | family; residency | travel.state.gov |
| Code | us-if4 | travel.state.gov |
| Criminal Policy | Beneficiary must be admissible — criminal history may trigger inadmissibility grounds under INA §212… | travel.state.gov |
| Dual Intent | false | travel.state.gov |
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