There are several ways to apply for an immigrant
visa. Normally, you must be the beneficiary of an approved petition.
There are different categories for Immigrant Visas, some petitions
are based upon a family relationship to an American Citizen or
a Legal Permanent Resident with Form
I-130, Petition for an Alien Relative; some through employment
with Form
I-140 Petition for an Alien Worker and some may be the winners
of the Diversity
Lottery held each year by the government of the United States.
American citizens may also file petitions for their Alien
Fiancé(e) with Form I-129F.
Foreign citizens wishing to immigrate and live permanently in
the U.S. must comply with U.S. visa immigration law, and the specific
procedures to apply for your visa. An Affidavit of Support form
filled in by the petitioner is required for most family-based
and some employment based immigrants to show there is adequate
means of financial support in the U.S. Click on the links below
for more information on forms to use, “how to” instructions
for Affidavits of Support, genetic (DNA) testing and more.
Based on law, not everyone will receive an immigrant visa. You
may also learn about denials, ineligibilities and waivers.
Please click on the links below in order to obtain more information
regarding immigrant visa categories, waiting periods, forms to
be filled in, document requirements, fees, photos, and where to
apply.
Immigrant
Visa Services
Immigrant
Visa Types
Immigrant
Visa Forms
Immigrant
Visa Photo Guidelines
Immigrant
Visa Bulletin
Immigrant
Visa Denials and Ineligibilities
DNA
and Parentage blood testing
Returning
Resident Aliens
Immediate
Relatives are not subject to numerical limitations and may
be available for the following:
-- Spouses of American Citizens (IR1 or CR1)
-- Unmarried children of American Citizens who do not qualify for
citizenship (IR2 or CR2)
-- Orphan adopted overseas who have completed the adoption process
(IR3)
-- Orphans to be adopted in the US (following the correct process)
(IR4)
-- Parents of American Citizens, if the petitioner is at least 21
years old (IR5)
For more info you can check on http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1306.html
Family
Based, numerically limited:
American citizens and Legal Permanent Residents may also file
a petition on behalf of certain relatives and depending the relationship
and visa category it might take some years before the immigrant
visa number becomes available. These are the following:
-- American citizens for their adult unmarried son or daughter over
21 years (F1)
-- American citizens for their married daughter or sons of any age
(F3)
-- American citizens, for their brothers or sisters, if the petitioner
is at least 21 year old (F4)
-- Lawful Permanent Residents for their spouses and minor children
(F2A)
-- Lawful Permanent Residents for their unmarried son or daughters
and their kids (F24/25)
You may check on the Visa
Bulletin for waiting periods on
Employment
Based:
Petitions for Alien Workers are filed with Form
I-140 and these may also be subject to availability of numbers,
depending on the yearly allocation for these kind visas.
The Immigration and Nationality Act provides a yearly number
of employment-based immigrant visas which are divided into five
preference categories. In some cases they may require a labor
certification from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the
filing of a petition with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services in the Department of Homeland Security (BCIS).
There are different
categories of Employment Based Visas.
Fiance(e)
Visas:
U.S. citizens may file petitions for their fiancé(e) so
they may apply for a one entry Non Immigrant Visa that will allow
them to travel to the U.S. and marry within 90 days after their
arrival and then adjust status in the U.S.
