The United States government has outlined two major family-based immigrant visa pathways available to foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the country through qualifying family relationships.
The U.S. Department of State said eligible applicants may seek immigrant visas under either the Immediate Relative or Family Preference categories, depending on their relationship with a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
The clarification was contained in the department’s September 2026 Visa Bulletin, published on its website and obtained on Tuesday.
The bulletin explains that foreign nationals seeking permanent residence through family sponsorship must obtain an immigrant visa and satisfy the requirements applicable to their particular category.
Immediate Relative visas
The Immediate Relative category covers certain close family members of U.S. citizens.
According to the State Department, eligible relationships include spouses of U.S. citizens, unmarried children under the age of 21 of U.S. citizens, and parents of U.S. citizens who are at least 21 years old.
A major advantage of the Immediate Relative category is that visas in this classification are not subject to an annual numerical limit.
This means that qualifying applicants in these categories are not placed on the same annual quota system that applies to family-sponsored preference immigrants.
However, applicants must still satisfy all applicable immigration requirements and complete the required visa processing before they can obtain permanent residence.
Family Preference visas
The second major pathway is the Family Preference category, which covers a broader range of family relationships involving U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, commonly referred to as green-card holders.
Unlike Immediate Relative visas, Family Preference visas are subject to annual numerical limits.
The State Department said the category consists of five classifications.
The F1 category covers unmarried sons and daughters aged 21 or older of U.S. citizens.
The F2A category covers spouses and children of lawful permanent residents, while F2B covers unmarried sons and daughters aged 21 or older of lawful permanent residents.
The F3 category covers married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, while F4 covers brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens.
Because the number of visas available in these preference categories is limited each fiscal year, applicants may have to wait for their priority dates to become current before an immigrant visa can be issued.
The State Department said the fiscal year 2026 numerical limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants is 226,000.
“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,” the bulletin stated.
September 2026 priority dates
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin provides the final action dates that determine when visas can be issued to applicants in the various family-sponsored preference categories.
For applicants from all chargeability areas except countries subject to separate listings, the bulletin places the F1 final action date at January 22, 2020.
For F2A, the final action date is August 22, 2026, while the F2B category has a final action date of August 22, 2019.
The final action date for F3 is October 22, 2014, while F4 stands at October 22, 2011.
These dates are particularly significant for applicants whose family-based petitions have already been filed because a visa generally cannot be issued in a preference category until the applicant’s priority date is earlier than the applicable final action date.
The bulletin also provides separate priority dates for applicants chargeable to China, India, Mexico and the Philippines, reflecting the country-specific limitations and varying levels of demand under U.S. immigration law.
Implications for Nigerian applicants
For Nigerians seeking permanent residence in the United States through family sponsorship, the distinction between Immediate Relative and Family Preference visas is particularly important.
A Nigerian who qualifies as the spouse of a U.S. citizen, for example, falls under the Immediate Relative category, which is not subject to the annual numerical limitation applicable to preference categories.
By contrast, Nigerians applying through relationships such as siblings of adult U.S. citizens, married children of U.S. citizens, or certain family relationships involving lawful permanent residents may fall under one of the Family Preference categories.
Such applicants are subject to numerical limits and therefore may face potentially lengthy waits depending on their category, priority date and visa demand.
The priority date generally becomes important from the point a qualifying family petition is filed and establishes the applicant’s place in the queue for an immigrant visa where a numerical limit applies.
Visa availability can change
The State Department cautioned that the dates published in the Visa Bulletin are not necessarily permanent.
Visa availability can change during the fiscal year depending on demand, the number of available immigrant visas and how quickly the annual limits are being reached.
The department also warned that retrogression could become necessary if demand increases substantially or the available annual visa numbers are exhausted.
Retrogression occurs when a previously advanced priority date is moved backward, potentially requiring applicants who had expected their cases to become eligible for final action to wait longer.
The bulletin therefore serves as an important monthly indicator for applicants, immigration attorneys and family sponsors monitoring when immigrant visas may become available.
Two pathways, different waiting periods
The September bulletin highlights the fundamental difference between the two family-based immigration routes.
Immediate Relative visas provide a pathway for certain closest family members of U.S. citizens without an annual numerical cap, although applicants must still complete the required immigration and visa procedures.
Family Preference visas, on the other hand, provide immigration opportunities for a wider range of relatives but are restricted by annual numerical limits and priority-date controls.
For prospective immigrants, understanding which category applies to their family relationship is therefore essential, as it can significantly affect the expected processing timeline.
The State Department’s September 2026 bulletin consequently provides applicants with a framework for determining whether a visa is immediately available or whether they must continue waiting for their priority date to become current.
The department advised applicants and prospective immigrants to pay attention to the monthly Visa Bulletin because visa availability can shift as the fiscal year progresses and demand changes.
