F4 in 2026 — the longest family-based wait
F4 covers brothers and sisters of adult (21+) U.S. citizens. It is the longest family-based green card category, with waits typically running 15-25+ years depending on the sibling's country of birth.
As of April 2026, the Visa Bulletin Final Action Dates for F4 sit roughly:
- Rest of World: ~16 years behind today's date
- Mexico: ~24 years
- Philippines: ~22 years
- India: ~17 years
- China: ~16 years
These are estimates; the Visa Bulletin updates monthly and movement varies. The calculator below uses the most recent published data.
Why F4 takes so long
Sibling green cards have the lowest priority in family-based immigration. Only about 65,000 F4 visas are issued worldwide each year, against demand from millions of eligible applicants. Per-country caps then limit any one country to roughly 7% of those — driving the multi-decade waits for high-demand countries like Mexico and the Philippines.
What can change the math
- File the I-130 now. Even though the wait is long, the priority date is locked in the day USCIS receives the I-130. Every year of delay in filing pushes the green card a year further out.
- Aging-out children. The sibling's children under 21 at the time of filing may be protected by CSPA — but the rules are complex and worth getting right.
- Death of the petitioner. The case is generally terminated if the petitioning U.S. citizen dies, though humanitarian reinstatement is sometimes possible.
- Marriage/divorce of the beneficiary. F4 status is preserved regardless of marriage; only F1, F2, and F3 are affected by marital changes.
Use the calculator below
The calculator is preset to F4. Pick the sibling's country of birth, enter the priority date if you have one, and select the filing stage to see an estimated wait based on the most recent Visa Bulletin and USCIS data.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the F4 sibling wait time in 2026?
F4 wait times in 2026 are roughly: Rest of World ~16 years, India ~17 years, China ~16 years, Philippines ~22 years, Mexico ~24 years. These reflect April 2026 Visa Bulletin Final Action Dates and can shift month to month.
Should I still file an F4 I-130 even though the wait is so long?
Yes, in almost every case. The priority date is locked the day USCIS receives the I-130. Every year of delay pushes the green card another year out. Many petitioners file the I-130 in their 30s or 40s knowing the green card will not arrive for two decades — that is normal for F4.
Will my sibling's children be able to come too?
If the sibling's children are unmarried and under 21 at the time of filing the I-130, they can be derivative beneficiaries and may immigrate with the principal sibling under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). Once they age out or marry, they generally no longer qualify as derivatives.
What happens if the petitioning U.S. citizen sibling dies during the F4 wait?
F4 cases are generally terminated when the petitioning U.S. citizen dies. Humanitarian reinstatement is sometimes possible if a substitute sponsor steps in, but it is not automatic and requires USCIS approval. This is one of the biggest risks of the multi-decade F4 wait.
Can the F4 sibling visit the U.S. while waiting?
An approved I-130 does not give the sibling any immigration status, and it can actually make it harder to get a B-1/B-2 visitor visa or to be admitted on ESTA, because consular officers may suspect immigrant intent. Each visit is judged on its own facts, but the pending I-130 is a real factor consular officers weigh.
