F4 Priority Dates for India: July 2026 Updates

The F4 priority date for India determines when the sibling of a U.S. citizen can move forward with the final steps required to obtain an F4 Green Card. For many foreign nationals, this remains the most important factor that shapes their immigration timeline.

When a U.S. citizen files Form I‑130 on behalf of a brother or sister, the date USCIS receives that petition becomes their F4 priority date. From there, the case joins a long queue, and the Visa Bulletin shows how far the government has gotten in that line each month.

Because India faces both very high demand and tight annual limits, its F4 line has barely moved in recent years. Checking the monthly F4 priority date matters so much for Indian siblings, since it’s one of the only ways to gauge how much longer they may have to wait before becoming permanent U.S. residents.

What is the current F4 priority date for India?

For the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, USCIS has announced that it will use the Dates for Filing Chart to determine when F4 petitioners can file on behalf of their siblings. For those trying to sponsor their siblings to enter the U.S., this means that their priority date remains December 15, 2006.

Filing dates vs. final action dates for India

Each month, the federal government decides whether it will use the Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates chart to determine when a foreign national can apply for adjustment of status.

When USCIS chooses the filing dates chart, a foreign national who is already in the U.S. and has a current date under that chart can file their Form I-485. While they can’t obtain a Green Card until their priority date becomes current under the Final Action Dates chart, being able to file their I-485 sooner allows them to join the processing queue earlier. They can also seek out additional benefits earlier, such as Advance Parole or an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

If an eligible F4 candidate remains abroad, they must go through consular processing to obtain their Green Card. Because they’d be unable to file an I-485 petition, which requires someone to already be in the U.S. on a nonimmigrant status, they can only obtain permanent residence once their priority date becomes current under the Final Action Dates chart.

What to do when your F4 priority date becomes current

Many F4 applicants pursue a Green Card through consular processing due to the extreme backlogs outlined in the Visa Bulletin, but getting permanent residence through adjustment of status is still an option for siblings.

Depending on the pathway you choose, here’s what Manifest immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar suggests:

• If you’re currently living abroad: After you’re instructed to do so, begin submitting your documents for consular processing. After you file Form DS-260, you’ll be able to schedule your visa interview and, if approved, obtain your Green Card.
• If you’re living within the U.S.: You can file Form I-485 (plus any additional benefits concurrently) to begin the adjustment of status process. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to receive your actual Green Card until your priority date becomes current.

Why is the F4 backlog so long for India?

According to Urizar, several structural factors explain why the F4 category for India has barely moved in recent months. “The federal government has a strict yearly cap on how many family‑preference Green Cards can be issued,” she says. “India can only obtain 7% of these immigrant visas, which contributes to the bottleneck.”

On top of that, demand from Indian families remains extremely high. “Every year, more new F4 cases are filed than the system can actually approve,” she notes. “That’s why the State Department often doesn’t advance the F4 India dates. The demand is there, but the actual visa numbers aren’t.”

How Manifest can help F4 applicants

When your priority date becomes current, the next step toward receiving a Green Card should be to file promptly and accurately. Regardless of whether you apply through a U.S. embassy or through adjustment of status, Manifest’s lawyers have experience working with individuals at all stages of the F4 process.

Request a consultation with us today if you are ready to sponsor your sibling for an F4 Green Card.