Can Green Card Holders Sponsor Siblings? U.S. Immigration Rules Explained

As immigration questions rise across the United States, many permanent residents are asking whether Green Card holders can sponsor their siblings for a U.S. Green Card. Immigration regulations make the answer clear: only U.S. citizens are allowed to petition for a brother or sister.

Green Card Holders Cannot File Sibling Sponsorship Petitions

Under U.S. immigration law, sibling sponsorship is part of the Family Fourth Preference (F4) visa category. This category is reserved solely for U.S. citizens aged 21 or older. Permanent residents cannot petition for siblings, even if they have lived in the country for many years.

How U.S. Citizens Sponsor Their Siblings

To begin the process, a U.S. citizen must file Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative). Once approved, the sibling joins a long waiting list because F4 visas are subject to strict annual caps. The timeline can range from 10 to over 20 years, depending on the applicant’s country of birth. Countries with historically heavy demand—India, Mexico, China, and the Philippines—experience the longest delays.

Eligibility Requirements for Sibling Green Card Sponsorship

To qualify, the sponsor and the sibling must share at least one parent, whether biological, step, or adoptive. Adoption must have occurred before the child turned either 16 or 18, depending on the circumstances. Sponsors must also provide proof of their U.S. citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization documents.

Later in the application process, the petitioner must file Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) to prove they can financially support the sibling once they immigrate.

What Relatives Green Card Holders Can Sponsor Instead

Although permanent residents cannot petition for brothers or sisters, they can sponsor:

• spouses
• unmarried children under 21
• unmarried adult children

Other family members—such as cousins, grandparents, aunts, or uncles—cannot be sponsored under any family-based immigration category.

Long Waiting Times Remain a Challenge

The sibling sponsorship backlog continues to be one of the longest in the U.S. immigration system. The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin provides monthly updates on movement in the F4 category, allowing families to track when visas become available.

Bottom Line

The rules governing family-based immigration remain strict. Green Card holders cannot sponsor siblings, and even U.S. citizens who qualify face significant waiting periods. Families considering this route should be prepared for a lengthy, multi-step process.