The United States has identified two major family-based immigrant visa categories available to foreign nationals seeking permanent residence through eligible family relationships.
According to the US Department of State, the categories are Immediate Relative visas and Family Preference visas.
The requirement for applicants is to secure an immigrant visa and satisfy the conditions applicable to the relevant category.
The information was contained in the department’s September 2026 Visa Bulletin released on its website.
The Immediate Relative category applies to spouses of US citizens, unmarried children below the age of 21 of US citizens, and parents of US citizens who are 21 years or older.
Unlike other family-sponsored categories, Immediate Relative visas are not restricted by an annual numerical quota.
The Family Preference category, on the other hand, covers specific family relationships involving US citizens and lawful permanent residents, commonly referred to as green-card holders.
It includes unmarried sons and daughters aged 21 or older of US citizens, spouses and unmarried children of lawful permanent residents, married sons and daughters of US citizens, as well as brothers and sisters of adult US citizens.
However, applicants under the Family Preference category are subject to yearly numerical limits. This means qualified applicants may have to wait until a visa becomes available.
The State Department’s September 2026 Visa Bulletin further confirmed that family-sponsored preference visas remain governed by annual limits and priority dates.
The fiscal year 2026 limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants is 226,000.
The bulletin states: “The fiscal year 2026 limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants determined in accordance with Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is 226,000.”
It lists “five family-sponsored preference categories: F1 for unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens; F2A for spouses and children of permanent residents; F2B for unmarried sons and daughters aged 21 or older of permanent residents; F3 for married sons and daughters of US citizens; and F4 for brothers and sisters of adult US citizens.”
For September, the bulletin lists “the final action date for F1 applicants from all chargeability areas except those separately listed as January 22, 2020.
The F2A final action date is August 22, 2026, while F2B is August 22, 2019.”
The final action date for F3 is October 22, 2014, while F4 is October 22, 2011, for the same group of chargeability areas.
Separate dates are provided for applicants from China, India, Mexico and the Philippines because of country-specific visa restrictions and demand.
For Nigerians hoping to move to the US through family sponsorship, understanding the difference between the two categories is particularly important.
While Immediate Relative visas are not subject to the annual numerical limit, Family Preference visas are capped and may therefore involve lengthy waits depending on the applicant’s priority date.
The State Department also warned that visa availability can change during the fiscal year and that retrogression may be introduced if demand rises or annual quotas are exhausted.
