You grew up with them, they played with you, they teased you, they protected you, and in your eyes, your siblings are immediate relatives. However, in the eyes of USCIS, a sibling green card falls under the family-sponsored preference category and not the immediate relative category. Because of this, the F4 visa, known as the sibling green card, takes significantly longer compared to immediate relative green cards in terms of processing time, forms, necessary documents, and even who is allowed to sponsor them.
In this guide, learn how to best navigate and understand the F4 visa process.
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Who is Eligible for the F4 Visa?
To qualify for an F4 sibling green card, you must meet the following requirements:
- The sponsoring sibling must hold U.S. citizenship;
- The sponsoring sibling must be at least 21 years old.
- The sibling receiving the green card must either be a full-blooded sibling, paternal half-sibling, step-sibling, or adopted sibling
- Permanent residents cannot sponsor siblings to live permanently in the country.
There are different types of required documentation for each type of sibling. We’ll go over more of the details for each type of category later.
Sponsor Requirements for an F4 Visa
The detailed sponsor requirements vary depending on the type of sibling you are sponsoring. To sponsor a full-blooded sibling, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen;
- Be over the age of 21;
- Prove that the beneficiary is, in fact, your sibling, either with a birth certificate or other documents; and
- Be residing in the U.S.
However, the documents that you must submit will differ if your beneficiary is not a full-blooded sibling.
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Adopted Siblings
To sponsor an adopted sibling, you must also submit a copy of the adoption decree that demonstrates that you and your adopted sibling were under 16 years old before the adoption took place.
It is important to note that if your full-blooded sibling was later adopted by another family, you can not sponsor that sibling for an F4 visa.
Step Siblings
To sponsor a step-sibling, you must provide a copy of your natural parent and step-parents’ marriage certificate and copies of any documents demonstrating that their prior marriages were terminated.
Half Siblings
To sponsor a half-sibling, you must provide a copy of each marriage certificate from each mother, along with copies of documents demonstrating the prior marriages were terminated.
A male U.S. citizen can petition only for those half-siblings who share his father.
A female U.S. citizen can petition only for those half-siblings who share her mother.
F4 Visa Fees
Sibling green card fees are generally around $1,300, not including the medical examination fee. Below is the breakdown of fees:
- I-130: $625 for online filing, 675 for paper filing
- I-864 Affidavit of Support: $120
- DS-260 Immigrant Visa Application: $325 (if applying from outside the U.S.)
- USCIS Immigrant Fee: $220
- Medical Examination: varies depending on where you live.
- If you are missing vaccines from the Department of State list, you will have to pay for these as well.
Fees for siblings already living in the U.S.
If your sibling lives in the U.S. under a valid nonimmigrant status such as an H-1B Visa, they will pay:
- I-130: $625 for online filing, 675 for paper filing
- I-485 Adjustment of Status: $1,440 (if applying from within the country under a nonimmigrant visa)
- USCIS Immigrant Fee: $220
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F4 Visa Application Process
The F4 application process is usually completed by the sponsor and by the beneficiary sibling. Although the entire process may differ depending on your background, the general process is listed below:
- Sponsor completes I-130, Petition for Alien Relative;
- If USCIS approves the petition, then the application will be passed on to NVC for consular processing.
- NVC will send your foreign sibling an application package with detailed instructions and documents that must be submitted.
- The sibling must wait for the priority date to become current with the final action date in the Visa Bulletin
- The sibling will then have to submit all of the documents requested by the NVC and submit Form DS-260.
- The beneficiary will have to undergo a medical exam
- Attend the visa interview
- If approved, the foreign sibling will receive a package from NVC and will be granted entry to the U.S.
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Sibling Green Card Processing Time
The sibling green card is known as the F4 visa for a reason. There are four family-based green card categories. The sibling category is the last one, which makes the processing time the longest. The processing time for an F4 visa takes approximately 17-23 years, depending on your country of origin.
Many people ask about the I-130 processing time for siblings. Because family-sponsored preference categories are not current in the Visa Bulletin, USCIS does not list a processing time for that category. Instead, you should refer to the dates listed in the Visa Bulletin.
You can check on your specific case status by inputting your receipt number in the USCIS’ case status checker.
Only 65,000 F4 visas are distributed every year, which also leads to long delays in approval. For the most accurate information on visa approvals, visit the visa bulletin.
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Processing time: I-485 or Consular Processing
After the priority date is current, your sibling can file an I-485 adjustment of status, or their case will be forwarded to the Department of State for consular processing.
- I-485: Processing time for I-485 adjustment of status for a sibling will take approximately 10.2 months, according to USCIS data (FY 2025)
- Consular processing: Consular processing for a sibling will take approximately 5-6 months, but may take longer due to lack of interview appointment availability.
- For scenarios where an individual will be applying within the U.S., they MUST maintain lawful status.
- The extreme difference in F2B, F3, and F4 depends on the individual’s country of birth (due to visa demand).
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Sibling Green Card Forms: I-130, I-485, I-693, I-864, DS-260, DS-261
Numerous forms must be submitted during the F4 process. Below is a detailed summary of all of the forms that you will encounter during the sponsorship process.
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
Form I-130 is always required for any family-based green card petition. Only the U.S. citizen who is sponsoring the sibling can fill out and submit the form. The sibling is considered the beneficiary. When USCIS accepts and receives the I-130, it will assign a priority date to the petition.
You don’t need to fill out a separate I-130 for your sibling’s spouse or their unmarried children under 21 years old.
To fill out the I-130, be prepared to answer questions about the following topics:
- The type of relationship you have with your sibling
- Your biographical information, including:
- Address history
- Marriage status and information about your spouse and any past spouses
- Information about your parents
- Employment history
- Immigration status
- Ethnicity, race, weight, height, and eye and hair color
- Your sibling’s biographical information, including:
- Current name and any history of name changes
- Immigration information
- Current address
- Marriage status and information about his or her spouse and any past spouses
- Information regarding your sibling’s children
- Any history of entry to the U.S.
- Information about your sibling’s employment
- Your history petitioning other relatives
- Your contact information
- The interpreter’s contact information, if one was used
- The contact information of the person who filled out the application, if one was used
