Key Permanent Visa Concepts: Consular Processing of Immigrant Visa

After an I-140 is approved by the USCIS, if a person has selected the Consular Processing option, the USCIS will transfer the I-140 file to the National Visa Center (NVC). Upon receipt of the file, the NVC will issue a notice the file has been received. If the person’s priority date is not yet current, the NVC informs the person his/her file will remain at the NVC for storage.

Once a person’s priority date is current, the NVC issues an Immigrant Fee Bill requesting the individual to pay the immigrant visa application fee to the NVC. When NVC receives the payment from the applicant, NVC issues a Form DS-230 Part I with instructions for completion by the applicant and any family members. The NVC also instructs the person obtain documentation, such as police clearance certificates, military records, marriage certificates, etc.. The DS-230 Part I must be completed and returned to the NVC. Upon receipt of the completed DS-230 Part I, NVC will issue Form DS-230 Part II and additional instructions regarding required documents for the immigrant visa interview.

Concurrent with the issuance of the DS-230 Part II, NVC transfers the person’s file to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate located in the person’s home country. Upon receipt of the file from the NVC, the case data is entered into the U.S. Embassy’s or Consulate’s computer systems for tracking of the case and the person is scheduled for an immigrant visa interview. The person receives the notice of interview date from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The person must return to his/her home country to undergo a medical examination with a U.S. Embassy designated physician and attend a personal interview.

After the immigrant visa interview, the applicant is issued an immigrant visa. The applicant must enter the United States within six months of immigrant visa issuance. Failure to make an entry within six months renders the immigrant visa invalid. Further, the principal applicant must either enter before his/her family members or at the same time.

When entering the United States for the first time after immigrant visa issuance, the applicant is inspected and the immigrant visa validated. The admission stamp placed on the immigrant visa validates it and demonstrates the applicant is a U.S. lawful permanent resident. The actual green card is mailed to the individual’s residence in the United States.