Family Preference Immigrant Visas (F1–F4)

Family Preference Immigrant Visas (F1–F4)

Family Preference visas cover family members of US citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) who do not qualify as "immediate relatives." Unlike immediate relatives, these categories are subject to annual numerical caps, which creates waiting periods ranging from a few years to several decades depending on category and country of birth.

The Four Preference Categories

F1 — First Preference: Unmarried sons and daughters (age 21+) of US citizens. Annual allocation: 23,400 visas.

F2A — Second Preference A: Spouses and unmarried children (under 21) of Lawful Permanent Residents. Annual allocation: 87,934 visas. Often has shorter waits than other preferences.

F2B — Second Preference B: Unmarried sons and daughters (age 21+) of Lawful Permanent Residents. Annual allocation: 26,266 visas.

F3 — Third Preference: Married sons and daughters of US citizens and their spouses and children. Annual allocation: 23,400 visas. Backlogs can be extremely long.

F4 — Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of adult US citizens (petitioner must be 21+), including their spouses and children. Annual allocation: 65,000 visas. The longest backlogs — decades for many countries.

Per-Country Limits

No single country can receive more than 7% of the total annual family-based visa allocation, creating severe backlogs for applicants from high-demand countries like Mexico, Philippines, China, and India.

How to Read the Visa Bulletin

The State Department publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin showing the current "cut-off date" for each preference category and country. If your priority date is earlier than the cut-off date, a visa is available.

Process

1. 1.Petitioner files I-130 to establish relationship and claim priority date
2. 2.Wait for priority date to become current (months to decades)
3. 3.NVC processes immigrant visa application
4. 4.Embassy interview or AOS with USCIS