Is It Worth Filing for a Sibling Green Card? A Hard Look at the F4 Green Card Backlog

For many U.S. citizens, sponsoring a brother or sister for a green card is deeply personal. Family unity matters, but the F4 sibling category comes with long wait times that can stretch for decades. That reality makes planning difficult and raises an important question about whether filing is the right move.

At Naya Immigration, Silicon Valley Business & Employment Immigration Lawyers, we help families make informed immigration decisions based on real timelines, not assumptions. In this article, we break down the current F4 backlog, explain what causes the delays, and help you evaluate whether starting the process makes sense for your family’s long-term goals.

U.S. citizens often think about sponsoring a brother or sister because family needs change over time. Aging parents may need support, siblings may want to raise children closer to extended family, or a household may want to secure a long-term path to permanent residency for future stability. Filing a sibling petition can feel like planting a flag, even when the timeline stretches far into the distance.

This choice is less about the mechanics of an immigrant visa petition and more about strategy. The F4 green card category involves long wait times, high demand, and a process shaped by the Immigration and Nationality Act and the monthly Visa Bulletin. A realistic plan weighs time, cost, and the likelihood that personal or policy changes will occur before a visa number ever becomes available.

Before filing, it helps to pause and talk through a few practical questions as a family. Those conversations often bring clarity that paperwork alone cannot.

Early filing can make sense if your main goal is to secure a priority date in the family-based preference category and keep the option open. Just be realistic from the start. For most families, there will be a long quiet period before the case sees meaningful movement.

The F4 green card category operates under strict annual limits and per-country caps set by the Immigration and Nationality Act. Demand consistently exceeds supply, which is why the line stretches across decades rather than years. Each month, the Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin, which shows which priority dates are eligible to move forward based on visa availability for that fiscal year.

Wait times are not uniform. A sibling’s country of birth plays a major role because high-demand countries have accumulated decades of pending immigrant visa cases. When more people from a single country apply than the law allows each year, cases stack up and move slowly, even when overall processing improves. This is why siblings from certain countries remain stuck in older cut-off dates while others see modest movement.

Progress can also be uneven. Some months show small advances, while others see no change at all. In some periods, final action dates move backward, a situation known as retrogression, when demand outpaces available visa numbers. Taken together, these patterns explain why patience is a core requirement in the family-based preference category for siblings.

These ranges reflect longstanding trends rather than short-term fluctuations. As a general snapshot, siblings from Mexico and the Philippines face the longest wait times, while applicants from most other countries still wait well over a decade for permanent residence to become possible. Always review the most recent Visa Bulletin before making decisions, as monthly movement can change expectations at the margins but rarely alters the long-term picture.

For some families, filing an F4 green card petition is a deliberate long-term investment. It establishes a priority date and preserves a future path to permanent residency for a brother or sister. When the case eventually becomes current, the principal applicant may also include a spouse and certain children as derivative beneficiaries, as long as they remain eligible.

Potential benefits include:

At the same time, the downsides are significant and should be weighed carefully. The F4 category is defined by high demand and long pauses with little visible progress. Families often spend years waiting without meaningful updates from immigration services.

Common challenges include:

Filing can still make sense if you are comfortable with a long timeline and limited short-term outcomes. If your family needs faster results or greater certainty, it may be wise to explore other immigration options before committing to the F4 path.

Every F4 case starts with personal priorities. Some U.S. citizens want to secure a place in line as early as possible, even if the benefit is decades away. Others are focused on bringing a brother or sister to the United States sooner and view the sibling category as only one part of a broader plan. Being clear about whether your goal is long-term permanent residence or near-term presence helps shape the right strategy.

Country of birth is one of the biggest practical factors. The family-based preference system applies per-country limits, which is why siblings from Mexico and the Philippines face the longest backlogs. For applicants from most other countries, the wait is still substantial but can be shorter. Reviewing current cut-off dates in the Visa Bulletin gives a more realistic picture of how long the line may be.

Your role as the citizen petitioner also matters. Over the years, you will need to remain reachable, track your receipt number, and keep records updated. At the final stage, you must show financial support and respond promptly to requests from the National Visa Center or an immigration officer. This is a long-term commitment, not a one-time filing.

The sibling’s own history is equally important. Prior nonimmigrant status, past immigration violations, or criminal issues can affect the case years later. Age is another key factor, especially for a sibling’s children, who may age out if the wait stretches on. Because immigration policies and processing priorities can shift, building flexibility into your plan helps you adjust if timelines speed up or slow down.

Many families choose a dual approach. They file an F4 green card petition to secure a long-term option, while also exploring faster paths that could bring a brother or sister to the United States sooner. This kind of parallel planning allows families to keep one foot in the future while addressing more immediate needs.

Some family-based options can move more quickly, depending on circumstances. A U.S. citizen spouse petition is often the fastest route for a married sibling. In other cases, a lawful permanent resident parent may be able to file for an adult unmarried son or daughter under a different family preference category, which can progress faster than the sibling line for certain countries.

Employment based immigration can also open a nearer window. Categories such as EB-1 for individuals with extraordinary ability, EB-2 or EB-3 through a U.S. employer, or a national interest waiver for work with broader impact may fit the right professional profile. These paths are separate from family petitions and are not affected by the same sibling backlogs.

Temporary options are another way to reduce distance while longer plans unfold. Nonimmigrant status visas such as H-1B for certain occupations, O-1 for extraordinary ability, L-1 for intracompany transfers, TN for Canadian and Mexican professionals, E-2 for treaty investors, F-1 for students, and J-1 for research or training can place a sibling in the United States sooner. Each visa has strict rules on intent, duration, and eligibility, which must be handled carefully. Legal guidance on nonimmigrant visa options is highly recommended and advised to avoid complications with USCIS or CBP.

Families can sometimes strengthen future options by building credentials or experience. That might include documenting achievements for an O-1 case, earning advanced degrees to support EB-2 eligibility, or developing a business structure that supports L-1 or E-2 criteria when nationality allows. This is often where legal guidance from an experienced immigration attorney becomes valuable. A focused strategy session can identify which paths are realistic now and which can run alongside an F4 filing.

Here is the reality in plain terms. The F4 green card line is long, the process moves slowly, and the commitment lasts for years. Even so, families continue to file because securing a future option for a brother or sister can still matter, even while everyday life moves forward.

The key is setting realistic expectations from the start. Keep your supporting documents organized over time, track your priority date, and review the Visa Bulletin each month to understand whether visa availability is changing. Because small missteps can cause delays later, timely legal guidance from an immigration attorney can help you stay on track and avoid problems.

Use the framework below to decide whether filing makes sense for you right now:

A steady, well-informed plan often works better than waiting for perfect conditions. Filing an F4 petition can be a reasonable step, as long as you also pursue alternative options that could bring your sibling to the United States sooner.

Naya Immigration blends Silicon Valley speed with practical, people-first service for families and employers. We work hard for strong results and clear communication, and we treat your goals like our own. If you want a real plan for the sibling category, plus backup options that match your timeline, we are ready to help.

Feel free to call us at 650-499-5187 or reach us through our Contact Us page. We welcome your questions and are happy to explain what the latest Visa Bulletin means for your family.