The issuance of an immigrant visa requires processing by the USCIS, NVC and United States embassy or consulate. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) limits the number of family based immigrant visas that are issued each year based on a preference category. Each preference category is assigned a number of immigrant visas. In addition, there… Read More
Relative Visa
Why would the United States embassy or consulate deny an immigrant visa?
The United States embassy or consulate might deny the immigrant visa for a variety of reasons. From an administrative perspective, immigrant visas can be denied for failing to present requested documents, a divorce decree for example; incorrectly completing documents, or failing to provide adequate evidence of ability to financially support the foreign relative. From a… Read More
How is an immigrant visa processed by the United States embassy or consulate?
At the interview, the consular officer will verify that all required documentation has been provided. Second, and more importantly, the consular officer will question your foreign relative in detail with respect to the specifics of your family relationship in order to determine its legitimacy. Assuming that the consular officer is satisfied, the immigrant visa application… Read More
What are the requirements for issuance of an immigrant visa?
A legally recognized family relationship between the petitioner and foreign relative The U.S. citizen or permanent resident can demonstrate an ability to financially support their foreign relative upon entry into the United States. The foreign relative has not committed certain crimes.
How long is NVC processing?
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) limits the number of family based immigrant visas that are issued each year based on a preference category. Each preference category is assigned a number of immigrant visas. In addition, there is a limit to the percentage of immigrant visas that can be allotted to each country in a… Read More
What is the National Visa Center?
Once the relative petition is approved by the USCIS, the relative petition is forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC performs a background check of your foreign relative, collects immigrant visa and affidavit of support fees and documents, processes the immigrant visa application and provides instruction regarding the interview and the required medical… Read More
How long is the relative petition valid for after approval?
As long as there is a legally recognized family relationship between the petitioner and foreign relative a relative petition is valid.
How long does it take the USCIS to process a relative petition?
After the relative petition is filed, the USCIS will issue a receipt notice. After reviewing the relative petition, if all the conditions and specifications are met, the USCIS will issue an approval notice. Currently, a relative petition is approved within 20 to 41 months (on average) depending on the foreign relative’s family sponsored preference category.
What is the government filing fee for a relative petition?
A relative petition is termed a Petition for Alien Relative (form I-130). At present, the filing fee is $420. We have provided a complete list of fees applicable to the immigrant visa application process on our immigrant visa fees page.
Can an unemployed petitioner file a relative petition?
Yes. There is no USCIS requirement that the petitioner be employed in order to file a relative petition. However, in order for the U.S. embassy or consulate to issue an immigrant visa, evidence must be presented that the petitioner is able to financially support a foreign relative upon entry into the United States. If the… Read More