F4 Visa for Nigerians

Do you Need Help With Your F4 Visa?

Our team of immigration experts specializes in assisting Nigerians with all US visa applications, including the F4 visa. We provide accurate and reliable information on up-to-date requirements, amongst other related conditions, ensuring that you have a clear understanding of all aspects involved. Let us handle every step of your application and make the process as stress-free as possible.

Nigerian Emigration

For Nigerian emigration matters, please call +44 (0) 3316300929 or +2342013438882

Other Immigration and Emigration Matters

For immigration/emigration to/from other countries, please call:

US –  +1 844 290 6312

Ireland –  (+353) 061 518 025

UK –  (+44) 333 4149244

Overview of the F4 Visa for Nigerians

The United States F4 Visa gives immigration status to eligible brothers and sisters of US citizens. It belongs to the second category of Family Immigration, which is Family Preference. The first category, Immediate Relative, is reserved for spouses, children, and parents of US lawful permanent residents.

US citizens do not necessarily need to have full or half biological siblings to file an application for the F4 Visa. Adopted siblings and stepsiblings can move to the US if they meet the additional criteria.

For adopted siblings, this means the adoption must have occurred before the 16th birthday of the adopted individual. Stepsiblings must prove their parents married before the US citizen turned 18.

Once the visa is acquired, siblings can establish a life in the US including work, studies and access to healthcare. If they have dependents, they can live together in the US lawfully.

How Long is the F4 Visa Processing Time?

As with any US Visa, processing times vary significantly between applications. The official estimated waiting time for this visa is 1-10 years.

The F4 Visa is particularly competitive as a preference for Family Green Cards is given to immediate relatives instead of siblings, so F4 Visa waiting times are notoriously long.

Short waiting times are more likely if the application is straightforward, the applicant submits the form at a quiet time and all requested information is provided in a timely manner.

It isn’t always possible to keep waiting times short as there can be expected and unexpected delays. The main expected delay is linked to the cap on F4 Visas. There is limited availability which means that applicants are competing for visas each year.

Unexpected delays may include difficulties with application processing, suspicious documents and unforeseen surges in applications.

Submitting the application quickly is key to obtaining a visa as soon as possible. The fastest route is to hire an IAS immigration solicitor who is experienced with each stage of the process by calling +44 (0) 331630092.

How Much Does the F4 Visa Application Cost?

The Green Card for brothers and sisters of US citizens includes the following fees:

• Form I-130 filing fee ($535)
• Form DS-260 processing fee/USCIS immigrant fee ($325)
• Medical examination and vaccination fee (varied)

Some applicants will be required to pay:

• Translation fee (varied)

The medical examination and vaccination costs will vary depending on the institution you visit in Nigeria.

The reason the translation fee varies is that it is the responsibility of the applicant to find a qualified translator for any documents that are not written in English. The fees will be different for each translator. Applicants whose documents are all written in English do not have to pay this fee.

Who is Eligible for the F4 Visa?

As the F4 Visa is a Family Visa, both the US citizen and their sibling must meet the eligibility criteria.

The US citizen must be:

• A US resident with a valid address
• 21+ years old
• In possession of documents proving an authentic sibling relationship with the applicant

The sibling must be under 21 years old and be able to prove that their brother or sister is a citizen of the USA.

How to Apply for the F4 Visa

File a Petition

The first step of applying for a F4 Visa is to file a petition. The US citizen sibling must file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative to confirm that they want their brother(s) or sister(s) to move to the US as a permanent resident.

File the Online Form

When a petition is accepted, the Nigerian citizen can file Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Electronic Application) with the information they have received from the National Visa Center (NVC). This includes their invoice number, case number and beneficiary ID number.

Responses to Form DS-260 questions and prompts must be highly accurate and written in English. The requested information includes:

• Personal details
• Contact details
• History of home addresses starting from the age of 16
• Family information

Submit the Correct Documents

Before the form is submitted, certain documents must be submitted. The desired documents will be outlined in the application. All applicants must provide the following documents:

• Confirmation of online application
• Birth certificate
• Copy of current passport

Certain applicants will need to attach the following:

• Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) (including supporting financial documents)
• Certified court or prison record (for any convictions)
• Military records (including proof of honourable discharge)
• Police clearance certificate (for over-16s who have lived in the US for 6+ months)
• Proof of marital status (marriage certificate, divorce certificate or death certificate)
• Form I-864A (Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member) (including supporting financial documents)

After the successful submission of these documents, applicants will see a confirmation page that they must save and send to the NVC.

Schedule a Medical Appointment in Nigeria

All Nigerian F4 Visa applicants must schedule vaccinations and a general medical examination before being permitted to live in the US permanently. The appointment must occur at least two weeks before the F4 Visa interview.

Furthermore, the doctor performing the examination and vaccinations must be approved by the US Consulate General.

Schedule Visa Interview and Prepare Documents

F4 Visa interviews can be booked at a US Consulate or Embassy in Nigeria. Applicants must bring the following documents to interview:

• Confirmation of Form DS-260 submission
• NVC interview letter
• Proof of sibling relationship to US citizen (birth certificates, photographs and/or letters)
• Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) for each financial sponsor (with relevant W-2s and a photocopied IRS transcript/most recent US federal income tax return)
• Original and photocopied birth certificate of US citizen sibling
• Proof of US citizen’s immigration status in US (lawful permanent resident card, photocopy of valid passport or naturalisation certificate)
• Two colour passport-sized photographs of identification
• Original and photocopied birth certificate of applicant and any dependants
• Valid passport with a photocopied biographic page (must be valid for at least six months after proposed arrival in US)
• Additional forms of identification (expired passports, voter registration cards, school reports etc)

If relevant, original military records, adoption papers and court/criminal records may be requested along with photocopies.

What to Expect During the F4 Visa Interview

During the F4 Visa interview at a US Embassy or Consulate, consular officers assess applications for eligibility and authenticity. They primarily do this by asking questions about topics including:

• The applicant’s reasons for moving to the US
• The sibling relationship
• History of US travel
• Criminal involvement
• US citizen sibling
• Dependants

Applicants must speak truthfully as suspicious information will be investigated and could result in rejection from the F4 Visa.

To get personalised interview tips and tricks, enquire about IAS F4 Visa packages on +44 (0) 3316300929 or +2342013438882.

What Happens If my F4 Visa Application is Denied?

There is never a guarantee that F4 Visa applications will be approved, even for genuine siblings of US citizens.

The main reasons for refusal are inadmissibility and fraudulent information, though other common reasons include missing documents, delayed responses and ineligibility.

When an F4 Visa is denied, only the US citizen petitioner can appeal the decision. The Nigerian applicant may re-apply for this visa, but it is strongly recommended that they work with an IAS lawyer to avoid falling victim to the same issues again.

Getting an F4 Visa as a Temporary Immigrant

US citizens with temporary resident siblings can petition for an Adjustment of Status (AOS) for their sibling by filing Form I-485. They must also submit the following online forms:

• I-864 (Affidavit of Support)
• I-693 (Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record)
• I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization)
• G-325A (Biographic Information (for Deferred Action)

If this adjustment is approved, the sibling is permitted to reside in the US permanently and obtain the F4 Visa.

For Nigerian individuals whose immigration status is close to expiring, or who are illegal US immigrants, it may be possible to acquire an F4 Visa by filing Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status to Permanent Residency) with supporting evidence of eligibility.

How Can IAS Help?

We provide comprehensive F4 Visa application packages for Nigerian nationals who are ready to move to the US with the help of our experienced, empathetic solicitors. Whether you need advice, support with scaling through the visa interview, visa application help from a lawyer, or your visa was refused and you need help with turning the refusal to approval, our US immigration lawyers can help.

Contact us on +44 (0) 3316300929 or +2342013438882 to join your sibling in the US as soon as possible. You can also message us online.