Family Preference Categories: Who Qualifies and How Long Is the Wait
The U.S. immigration system divides family-based immigration into two groups: immediate relatives and family preference. If your relationship with a U.S. citizen or green card holder doesn't qualify as an immediate relative, you likely fall into one of the family preference categories. This page explains who those categories cover, how the process works, and what the wait looks like.
Key Takeaways
- Family preference categories cover relatives of U.S. citizens and green card holders who don't qualify as immediate relatives.
- Unlike immediate relatives, family preference applicants face annual visa caps and often long wait times.
- There are four preference categories (F1 through F4), each with its own annual visa limit.
- Your priority date — the date USCIS receives your I-130 — determines your place in line.
- Both U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can petition, but only for specific relationships.
What Are the Family Preference Categories
Family preference categories exist for relatives who have a qualifying family connection to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, but whose relationship falls outside the immediate relative categories. Immediate relatives — spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens — receive unlimited visas. However, everyone else with a qualifying family tie goes through the preference system.
USCIS recognizes four family preference categories. Two apply only to relatives of U.S. citizens. One applies to relatives of green card holders. And one — the second preference — is split into two subcategories based on age and marital status.
The Five Immediate Relative Categories
USCIS recognizes four family preference categories, each defined by the relationship between the applicant and their U.S. citizen or green card holder sponsor. Importantly, the category you fall into also determines your annual visa cap — and how long you may wait.
| Category | Who Qualifies | Petitioner | Annual Visa Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Unmarried sons and daughters (age 21 or older) of U.S. citizens | U.S. citizen | 23,400 |
| F2A | Spouses and unmarried children (under 21) of lawful permanent residents | Green card holder | 87,934* |
| F2B | Unmarried sons and daughters (age 21 or older) of lawful permanent residents | Green card holder | 26,266* |
| F3 | Married sons and daughters (any age) of U.S. citizens | U.S. citizen | 23,400 |
| F4 | Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (petitioner must be 21 or older) | U.S. citizen | 65,000 |
*F2A and F2B together receive 114,200 visas annually. F2A receives at least 77% of that allocation.
A few important details the table doesn't capture:
F1 — Unmarried Adult Children of U.S. Citizens
This category often catches people off guard. A child who aged out of immediate relative status (turned 21) before their green card was approved falls into F1 if they remain unmarried. As a result, wait times can range from several years to over a decade depending on country of birth.
F2A — Spouses and Young Children of Green Card Holders
This is one of the more favorable preference categories. F2A applicants generally face shorter wait times than other preference categories, and USCIS has occasionally designated F2A as "current," meaning no wait at all during those periods. If a green card holder naturalizes before the case is complete, the family member's status automatically upgrades to the immediate relative category.
F2B — Unmarried Adult Children of Green Card Holders
Wait times here are longer than F2A and vary significantly by country. Unlike F2A, if the petitioning parent naturalizes, the F2B beneficiary's case does not automatically upgrade — because unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens fall into F1, not the immediate relative category.
F3 — Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
Marriage removes a child from immediate relative eligibility entirely. Once an IR-2 child marries, their case moves to F3 — a capped category with substantially longer wait times.
F4 — Brothers and Sisters of U.S. Citizens
This is the most backlogged family preference category. Wait times can exceed 15 to 20 years for applicants from high-demand countries like the Philippines, Mexico, India, and China. Additionally, the U.S. citizen petitioner must be at least 21 years old to file.
How the Visa Bulletin and Priority Dates Work
Because family preference visas are capped each year, applicants must wait their turn. When USCIS receives your Form I-130, that filing date becomes your priority date — your place in line. You cannot move forward with a green card application until that date becomes "current."
The U.S. Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin every month showing cutoff dates by category and country of birth. Two things drive your wait: which category you're in, and where you were born. Applicants from high-demand countries like Mexico, the Philippines, India, and China typically wait far longer than applicants in the same category from lower-demand countries.
The bottom line: file Form I-130 as early as possible. Every month you delay is a month added to your wait. Use CitizenPath's free Green Card Wait Time Estimator to get a sense of your timeline. Then, for a complete explanation, read our full guide to how the Visa Bulletin works →
How Long Do Preference Categories Wait for a Green Card?
Wait times in the family preference system vary widely by category and country of birth. Enter your priority date in our free Green Card Wait Time Estimator to see what the latest visa bulletin means for your case.
Grounds of Inadmissibility for Family Preference Applicants
Unlike immediate relatives, family preference applicants do not receive an exemption from most adjustment of status bars. As a result, this is a critical distinction.
Under INA Section 212, USCIS evaluates all applicants for grounds of inadmissibility before approving a green card. For family preference applicants, the following are among the most commonly applied:
- A history of unauthorized employment in the United States
- Unlawful presence in the United States for certain periods
- Violations of a nonimmigrant visa status
- Criminal history involving certain offenses
- Public health grounds
Waivers are available for some — but not all — grounds of inadmissibility. If any of these issues may apply to your situation, consult an experienced immigration attorney before filing. A waiver denial can delay or derail the entire case.
To see a full breakdown of these bars, review the list of grounds of inadmissibility →
How to Apply for a Green Card in a Family Preference Category
The process follows a predictable sequence, but the timeline between steps can stretch years depending on your category and priority date.
Understand Your Path
For most family preference applicants, consular processing is the only realistic option. Because the wait for a visa number can span years or even decades, most applicants are living outside the United States when their priority date finally becomes current — and they apply for an immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.
Adjustment of status may be available only to applicants who happen to be inside the United States in a valid immigration status when their visa number becomes available — and who are otherwise eligible. In practice, this is a less common scenario for family preference applicants.
File Form I-130
The U.S. citizen or green card holder petitioner files Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. This establishes the qualifying relationship and locks in your priority date. Supporting documents — birth certificates, marriage certificates, proof of the petitioner's status — must accompany the petition.
File as early as possible. The I-130 filing date becomes the priority date, and earlier dates move to the front of the line.
Monitor the Visa Bulletin
After I-130 approval, family preference applicants typically wait for their priority date to become current. Monitor the monthly Visa Bulletin to track when your date becomes eligible. The National Visa Center will also send notifications as your case moves forward.
Apply for the Green Card
Once a visa number is available, the applicant files for a green card — either through consular processing abroad or adjustment of status inside the United States. This step includes a medical examination, biometrics, and an interview.
Satisfy the Financial Sponsorship Requirement
The U.S. petitioner must file Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, confirming they have income at no less than 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and can act as a financial sponsor. If their income falls short, joint sponsor may also participate.
Whether you're filing from inside the U.S. or abroad, CitizenPath has affordable, attorney-reviewed services to simplify every step. Start with the form that fits your situation. Upon completition, you receive official forms ready to sign plus a checklist of supporting documents customized to your situation.
To start the process for a family member abroad, use the Immigrant Visa Petition Package. For applicants inside the United States, learn more about the Adjustment of Status Package →
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