F4 Brothers and Sisters of U.S. Citizens Visa

The F4 visa category is designed for siblings of U.S. citizens who wish to immigrate to the United States and become lawful permanent residents (green card holders). Here are key aspects of the F4 visa:

• Family Preference Category: The F4 visa falls under the family preference category, which has limited annual visa allocations. As a result, there may be significant waiting times before a visa becomes available for siblings of U.S. citizens.
• Petition by U.S. Citizen: The U.S. citizen sibling must file a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of their sibling. The petition establishes the familial relationship and begins the immigration process.
• Priority Date: Once the Form I-130 petition is approved by USCIS, the sibling's priority date is established. The priority date determines the sibling's place in line for an immigrant visa based on the visa bulletin published by the Department of State.
• Visa Availability: The availability of F4 immigrant visas is subject to annual numerical limits and visa processing times. Siblings of U.S. citizens may face lengthy waiting periods before a visa becomes available based on their priority date.
• Immigrant Visa Application: When a visa becomes available, the sibling can apply for an immigrant visa at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country. They must undergo a medical examination and attend an interview as part of the application process.
• Immigration to the United States: Upon approval of the immigrant visa application, the sibling can travel to the United States and be admitted as a lawful permanent resident (green card holder). They may also be eligible to apply for employment authorization.
• Adjustment of Status: If the sibling is already present in the United States in a non-immigrant status, they may be eligible to adjust their status to that of a lawful permanent resident without having to leave the country.
• Conditional Residency: In some cases, siblings may be subject to conditional residency if they are granted immigrant status based on a marriage that is less than two years old at the time of admission to the United States.
• Path to Citizenship: Once the sibling becomes a lawful permanent resident, they may be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization after meeting certain residency and other requirements.

Navigating the F4 visa process can be complex, so it's important for siblings and sponsoring U.S. citizens to seek guidance from immigration attorneys and understand the requirements and potential challenges associated with family-based immigration.