What Is an F4 Visa?

Recognizing the importance of family relationships, the federal government allows U.S. citizens to petition for noncitizen family members to come to the country. If the relative is your brother or sister, or their spouse or their children, one option is to obtain an F4 visa.

Description

The F4 visa is restricted to brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and children. The U.S. citizen must be at least 21 years old.

Types of "F" Visas

Other F visas include the F1, for any unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their children, if they have any. An F2 visa is for the spouses, minors and unmarried children of lawful permanent residents. An F3 visa covers the married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, as well as their spouse and children.

Limits

As of February 2010, only 65,000 F4 visas are granted each year. If there are too many applicants, they are prioritized according to their filing dates.

Residence

The U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident must have a residence in the U.S. before an F4 visa can be issued.

Process

Applicants require approval by both the Department of Homeland Security and the Immigration Service before processing can begin at the National Visa Center.

References

• State Department: Immigrant Visas

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• National Visa Center