US Outlines Two Family Visa Pathways for Nigerians Seeking Green Cards

By Lateepha Eniola, Group Business Editor

The United States government has outlined two main family-based immigrant visa categories for Nigerians and foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the country through qualifying family relationships.

The two categories are Immediate Relative visas and Family Preference visas.

According to the US Department of State, foreign nationals seeking permanent residence through family sponsorship must obtain an immigrant visa and meet the requirements for their specific category.

This was contained in the department’s September 2026 Visa Bulletin published on its website on Tuesday.

The Immediate Relative category covers spouses of US citizens, unmarried children under 21 of US citizens, and parents of US citizens who are at least 21 years old.

Unlike family-sponsored preference visas, Immediate Relative visas are not subject to an annual numerical limit.

The Family Preference category, on the other hand, covers certain family relationships involving US citizens and lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green-card holders.

The department said the category comprises 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, and brothers and sisters of adult US citizens.

Unlike Immediate Relative visas, Family Preference visas are subject to annual numerical limits, meaning eligible applicants may have to wait until a visa becomes available.

The State Department’s September 2026 Visa Bulletin confirmed that family-sponsored preference visas remain subject to annual limits and priority dates.

“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 said.

The bulletin listed 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 listed the final action date for F1 applicants from all chargeability areas, except those separately listed, as January 22, 2020.

It set the F2A final action date at August 22, 2026, while the F2B date was August 22, 2019.

The final action date for F3 was October 22, 2014, while that of F4 was October 22, 2011, for the same group of chargeability areas.

The bulletin also provided separate dates for applicants chargeable to China, India, Mexico and the Philippines because of country-specific visa limits and demand.

For Nigerians seeking to relocate to the US through family sponsorship, the distinction between the two categories is important because Immediate Relative visas are not subject to annual numerical limits, while Family Preference visas are.

The department, however, noted that visa availability could change during the fiscal year and that retrogression might become necessary if demand increased or annual limits were reached.