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The first step to becoming a US citizen is obtaining an Immigrant Visa. All intending immigrants to the United States from any country must obtain immigrant visas before traveling. There are three categories of immigrant visas under US law:

Family-based immigrant visas The vast majority of immigrants to the United States enter based on family relationships. Immediate relatives of American citizens are entitled to immigrant visas without limitations, including spouses, natural children (under 21, unmarried), adopted orphan children, and parents. Other family members of American citizens and Lawful Permanent Resident may also seek immigrant visas, but visas in these categories are numerically limited and can take several years to be processed successfully. Family member categories are: unmarried sons or daughters (over 21 years old), married sons or daughters (of any age), natural siblings of American citizens, and spouses and children of LPRs. Employment-based immigrant visas Employment-based immigrant visas are awarded to certain immigrants with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. Professionals with advanced degrees, skilled workers, ministers of religion or religious workers, certain employees of the US government, and employment investors are eligible. By law, only a certain number of employment-based immigrant visas are available every year, most requiring a prior job offer in the United States and sponsorship by a US company. Diversity Visas Diversity Visa processing is different from that of other immigrant visas. Applicants interested in the Diversity Visa Program, which awards approximately 50,000 immigrant visas to randomly-selected qualified candidates throughout the world, should see the handout "Diversity Visas."

The immigrant visa process begins when a petition is submitted to the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS):

For family-based immigrants: Form I-130 (must be completed by the American citizen or LPR petitioning for his/her family member).
For adopted children: Form I-600 (potential adoptive parents should see the handout "Adopting Children Overseas").
For employment-based immigrants: Form I-140. Certain immediate relative petitions may be submitted directly to the US Embassy for approval. All others must be sent to the appropriate INS office for processing. INS charges a $130 processing fee for all immigrant petitions.

Once a petition has been approved, the petitioner and recipient are notified by mail about further processing steps. Applicants in numerically limited categories (non-immediate family members and employment-based visas) must wait until visas are available in their immigrant category. For some categories, the wait can be several years.

Final processing of immigrant visas takes place through the nearest US Embassy or Consulate and costs $335. Recipients must complete the application form (DS-230), medical forms (DS-2053, DS-3024, DS-3025, and DS-3026), affidavit of support (I-864), and submit copies of tax forms and two photographs. Applicants must also obtain police checks from their place(s) of residence and a complete medical examination by an approved doctor. Final issuance of an immigrant visa takes place only after a personal interview by the consular officer.

For more specific information on immigrant visa processing and requirements please contact the consular section of the US Embassy.

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