In the United States, obtaining a Green Card for siblings is a lengthy and highly regulated process — very different from the immediate relative categories that cover spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21.

The sibling category falls under the Family Fourth Preference (F4) visa, which is subject to annual numerical limits. Around 65,000 visas are allocated globally each year, with each country restricted to no more than 7 per cent of the total. Owing to these caps, applicants from high-demand countries such as India, Mexico, China, and the Philippines face waiting times that can stretch beyond 15 to 20 years.

Who Can Apply

Only US citizens aged 21 or older are eligible to sponsor their siblings. Green Card holders (lawful permanent residents) cannot do so. Citizenship may be through birth or naturalisation, and petitioners must prove this using official documents such as a passport, birth certificate, or naturalisation certificate.

To qualify, siblings must share at least one common parent — whether biological, step, half, or adopted — and the legal or familial relationship must have been established before the sibling turned 18 (or 16 in adoption cases).

Specific documentation is required for each relationship type. For instance, adopted siblings must submit an adoption decree showing both were under 16 at the time of adoption. Step-siblings must include the parents’ marriage certificate and proof that any prior marriages were legally ended.

Step 1: Filing Form I-130

The Green Card process begins with the Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), filed by the US citizen with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). As of 2025, the fee is $625 for online filing and $675 for paper submissions.

Once filed, USCIS issues a receipt notice (Form I-797C), marking the petition’s priority date — a crucial factor in determining when the visa becomes available. Approval of Form I-130 confirms the family relationship but does not mean a visa will be issued immediately.

What Happens After Approval

After USCIS approval, the case moves to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC contacts the petitioner once the priority date nears the cut-off published in the US Department of State’s monthly Visa Bulletin.

At that stage, both the sponsor and sibling must submit:

Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support), showing the sponsor meets income requirements.

Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application).

Civil documents such as birth and marriage certificates.

When the case becomes current, the sibling is scheduled for a visa interview at the US consulate. If approved, they receive an immigrant visa and become a lawful permanent resident upon entering the United States.

The Waiting Game: Understanding the Visa Bulletin

The priority date determines when a sibling can proceed with the next step. The Visa Bulletin, issued monthly, lists which dates are currently being processed.

As of late 2025, the backlog for F4 visas is among the longest in the US immigration system. For example, the September 2025 bulletin showed that Mexico cases filed in March 2001 were only just being processed — a 24-year wait.

For Indian applicants, too, the waiting period typically exceeds 17–20 years because of the strict per-country limits.

Costs Involved

Approximate fees for the sibling Green Card process include:

Form I-130: $625 (online) / $675 (paper)

Immigrant visa (DS-260): $325

Affidavit of Support: $120

USCIS immigrant fee: $220

Medical examination: variable by country

If the sibling is already in the US and eligible to adjust status, Form I-485 costs an additional $1,440. The total expense can exceed $1,300, excluding medical costs and vaccinations.

Common Hurdles

A major limitation is that a pending sibling petition does not grant temporary stay or work rights in the US. Beneficiaries generally must remain abroad until their visa becomes available.

Additionally, having an active immigrant petition can complicate efforts to obtain temporary visas — such as tourist or student visas — since it demonstrates immigrant intent.

The process cannot be fast-tracked. Experts advise ensuring all paperwork is accurate and communication with the NVC remains up to date to avoid avoidable delays.

The Bottom Line

The F4 sibling visa process is a long-term commitment, often spanning decades. While it remains a key route to family reunification, many families explore alternative immigration pathways — such as employment-based visas, student visas, or the Diversity Visa Lottery — though each comes with its own set of criteria and limitations.