Your Immigration Link to the World

Because there is a limit as to the number of brothers or sisters (regardless of age) of US citizens who may immigrate in a given year, there is a waiting period before an immigrant visa number becomes available. Children of legal permanent residents are categorized under the Family Preference Category 4 (F4).

There are two ways for a Brother or Sister of a U.S. citizen:

1. If the brother or sister of the U.S. citizen is legally in the United States, the U.S. citizen must file a petition and it must be approved. You must wait for your priority date in your Family Preference Category 4 to become current. Your priority date is the date when the petition was filed. Once the priority date is current, the brother or sister may adjust status.
2. If the brother or sister of the U.S. citizen is outside the United States, he/she may become a legal permanent resident through consular processing. Consular processing is when the U.S.C.I.S. works with the U.S. Department of State to issue a visa from an approved petition when it is available. Under consular processing, the Department of State will issue the visa (if approved). Once the brother or sister travels on the immigrant visa, s/he will become a legal permanent resident when admitted at a U.S. port of entry.