Obtaining an immigrant visa can seem like a daunting task. While it can be complicated and time consuming, it is not as difficult as you may think. With a little advance planning, the process can be easy. Before you know it, you will have a visa!
A visa is a legal document allowing you entrance into a country of which you are not a citizen. If you are planning a trip to the United States, you will find that there are many different kinds of visas; they vary according to your specific situation. Student visas and travel visas are the most common. However, if you want to move to the United States permanently, you need to apply for an immigrant visa.
The first step you need to take before applying for an immigrant visa is to make sure that you meet the requirements. The United States has very stringent guidelines that you have to meet before receiving permission to move there. Most often, immigrant visas go to people related to US citizens by blood or marriage. People who have found a job in the United States or who have unique qualifications for job that are in high demand and low supply will receive precedence.
Once you determine that you meet the application requirements, you will need to find someone to sponsor your application. This is generally a spouse, family member, or employer. This person will need to fill out an I-130 petition with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office on your behalf.
After the USCIS office approves the petition, they will forward it to the National Visa Center (NVC) to be processed. Once the petition is processed, their office will contact you with specific instructions on how to proceed with the process. These instructions differ on a case-by-case basis and not following them often results in a delay in application processing.
The NVC will usually request that you come in for an interview at the nearest embassy. If that is the case, they will set up the interview and contact you with the details. They may ask you to bring in documents to prove your identity and your relationship to your sponsor. It's a good idea to have easy access to the original copies of your passport, marriage certificate, and birth certificate. You may need to have a medical exam with a US government-approved doctor. This will prove that you are healthy and do not have any communicable diseases that may be spread once you have arrived in the United States.
The application process may seem complex and difficult. However, as long as you leave yourself plenty of time, make sure that you are eligible, and follow instructions closely; you should have no trouble applying for and receiving your immigrant visa.
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