I have two citizen siblings who petitioned for me under F4 in different years. Is the wait time cumulative?

It is common to have questions about how wait times are counted when there are two F4 petitions (for siblings of citizens) filed on different dates.

The Family Based visa process, specifically in this category, is governed by individual priority dates, meaning each application has its own timeline based on the date the Form I-130 was received by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

In practice, petitions do not accumulate or combine. In other words, if your siblings petitioned for you at different times, each petition will be reviewed according to its own priority date. This date determines when your turn in processing will be active, according to visa availability as published by the U.S. Department of State.

If one of the petitions has an older priority date, that one will be closer to becoming current and, theoretically, may provide an advantage. However, the system does not allow waiting periods to be added together or combined to reduce the total time in the queue.

It is important to emphasize the relevance of monitoring the official rules and updates of immigration laws, as they are subject to changes and interpretations. Therefore, it is advisable to consult official sources or specialized counseling services, avoiding information that promises miraculous solutions or guaranteed results.

These precautions help prevent frustrations and legal issues. Always remember to take the necessary steps to be properly informed and follow the regulations established by the U.S. government, seeking support only from professionals or reliable sources.

This way, you will be better prepared to understand the entire process and make informed decisions about your case.

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.