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Tuesday Mar 19, 2024

What Procedure Must You Follow When Applying For An Immigrant Visa?

Migrating to the United States can present you with an ideal opportunity, especially to further your education or land lucrative career opportunities. Nonetheless, you will need an immigrant visa, also known as a green card, to help you secure a position in the country. For this reason, you may need to consider San Jose consular processing services. Applying for an immigrant visa is a process, and if you feel overwhelmed, this article will help make things more transparent.

The Steps To Follow When Applying For A Green Card

What Is Your Immigration Basis?

You must first identify on what basis you want to relocate to the U.S. In most cases, you can immigrate based on a petition made by a family member, yourself, or your employer. Nonetheless, it is possible to immigrate by first obtaining asylum or refugee status. That is why you need to be clear on the basis on which you want to become a permanent U.S citizen.

Petition Filing

You can file a petition to immigrate on your own or have someone else file it for you. If you are under 21 years old but have an immediate family member as a U.S citizen, they will be the ones to petition on your behalf. In this case, immediate family refers to parents, spouses, and children who are unmarried and under 21 years. On the other hand, if you want to immigrate due to career changes, your current employer is liable to file a petition for you. Nonetheless, the filing can also be done by the intending U.S employer on your behalf by filing Form 1 – 140. After filing, the next step is to be patient as a decision is made on your petition.

Receiving The Notification On Your Application

Once the decision on your petition has been made, you, the beneficiary, and the petitioner will receive a notification from the National Visa Center. These notifications come in two parts: one, after the petition has been received and just before the visa number becomes available. The NVC will also notify you when you are supposed to pay the green card processing fee and all the supporting documents you should submit. Some of the documents that may be required for your consular processing include a copy of the petition you filed, an updated passport, and a copy of your birth records. Once everything has been verified, you will get a notification forwarding you to the appropriate consulate. The information you will receive here includes the date of the appointment with the consulate and your medical examination.

Attend The Appointment

When the day comes, you will need to present yourself at the designated consular office. However, you should know that the primary duty of a consulate at this point is to review your application. If you pass the immigrant eligibility test, your case will be processed, and you will receive your visa. Sometimes the consulate may feel that your petition is insufficient for your immigration. In that case, the consular office will send back the document to the USCIS, where it can be reconsidered or revoked. It is advisable to inform the National Visa Center of any changes, such as attaining 21 years, change of location, or any other developments.

What’s Next After Getting A Visa?

You will receive a ‘visa packet’ from the NVC, which you should never open before landing in the U.S. After landing, you should present this packet to the customs officer at your point of entry.

Getting a green card or an immigrant visa is not a walk in the park. Fortunately, the many qualified and reliable lawyers out there can help you through the process to ensure you reunite with family or grab a career opportunity in the United States.

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