Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants Overview | You have been registered with the National Visa Center (NVC) to apply for a visa to immigrate to the United States. You must now obtain the documents required for your application for an immigrant visa and send them to NVC. |
These instructions cover the following topics: Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Forms
DS-230 Part I and Part II | The DS-230 Part I and Part II contain questions regarding specific biographical information required for the immigrant visa. A copy of each of form is included with this packet of information. |
| Each family member that is eligible to travel to the United States with you under this visa classification is required to complete the DS-230 Part I and Part II. |
Please fill out the DS-230 Part I and Part II completely. If a question does not apply to you then you must mark it with a N/A. Note: Sign the Part I form only. The Part II form must be signed at the time of your visa interview. |
| Please send all the completed DS-230 Part I and Part II forms to the National Visa Center with the other documents requested in this information packet. Please use the enclosed envelope when returning the information. |
Documents You Need to Obtain and Submit | Please obtain the original documents or certified copies from an appropriate authority (the issuing entity) for yourself and each family member who will accompany you to the United States. All documents that pertain to your petition are required, even if they were previously submitted to the BCIS with your petition. |
Submit the original, or certified copy, of the birth record of each family member (yourself, your spouse, and all unmarried children under the age of 21). The certificate must contain the: |
-
Person’s date of birth -
Person’s place of birth -
Names of both parents, and -
Annotation by the appropriate authority indicating that it is an extract from the official records Unobtainable birth certificates Your birth record may not be obtainable. Some reasons are listed below. -
Your birth was never officially recorded. -
Your birth records have been destroyed. -
The appropriate government authority will not issue one. Please submit a certified statement from the appropriate government authority stating the reason your birth record is not available. With the certified statement you must submit secondary evidence. For example: -
A baptismal certificate that contains the date and place of birth and both parent’s names providing the baptism took place shortly after birth -
An adoption decree for an adopted child, or -
An affidavit from a close relative, preferably the applicant’s mother, stating the date and place of birth, both parent’s names, and the mother’s maiden name. Note: An affidavit must be executed before an official authorized to take oaths or affirmations. Information regarding the procedures for obtaining birth certificates is usually available from the embassy or consulate of the country concerned. |
| Police certificates are required for each visa applicant aged 16 years or older. The table below shows how many police certificates are required based on where each applicant lives and has lived previously. Present and former residents of the United States should NOT obtain any police certificates covering their residence in the U.S. IF the applicant is living in their country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months
AND is 16 years old or older
THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality. IF the applicant lived in a different part of their country of nationality for more than 6 months
AND was 16 years or older at that time
THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality. IF the applicant lived in a different country for more than 12 months
AND was 16 years or older at that time
THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality. IF the applicant was arrested for any reason, regardless of how long they lived there
AND was any age at that time
THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality. The police certificate must: - Cover the entire period of the applicant’s residence in that area, and
- State what the appropriate police authorities records show concerning each applicant, including all arrests, the reason for the arrest(s), and the disposition of each case of which there is a record.
Note: Police certificates from certain countries are unavailable. More specific information is available from NVC or the nearest United States immigrant visa processing post. |
Submit a photocopy of the biographic data page of your and your individual family members’ passports. This is the page that shows your name and date and place of birth. Note: Do NOT send your passport(s) to the NVC, just the photocopy of the biographic data page. |
| Applicants who have previously been deported or removed at government expense from the United States must obtain Form I-212, Permission to Reapply after Deportation, from the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security, or from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and follow the instructions included on that form. |
| Persons who have been convicted of a crime must submit a certified copy of each court record and any prison record, regardless of the fact that he or she may have subsequently benefited from an amnesty, pardon or other act of clemency. Court records should include: |
Persons who have served in the military forces of any country must submit one copy of their military record. |
| Note: Military records from certain countries are unavailable. More specific information is available from NVC or the nearest United States immigrant visa processing post. |
| Married applicants must submit an original marriage certificate, or a certified copy, bearing the appropriate seal or stamp of the issuing authority. |
Termination of prior marriages | Applicants who have been previously married must submit evidence of the termination of EACH prior marriage. Evidence must be in the form of original documents issued by a competent authority, or certified copies bearing the appropriate seal or stamp of the issuing authority. Acceptable evidence is a: -
FINAL divorce decree -
Death certificate, or -
Annulment. |
All documents not in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified English translations. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator that states that the: |
Children who are about to Reach 21 Years of Age Important Information If you have children who intend to immigrate with you to the United States, or to join you in the United States at a later date, please read this important information. In order to immigrate with you to the United States, or to follow you at a later date, your children must be: - Unmarried
- Eligible to be listed under your visa classification, and
- Under the age of 21 at the time they enter the United States.
| Note: Children of mothers, fathers or spouses of United States citizens, must have separate immigrant visa petitions filed on their behalf. |
If any of your children will turn 21 within 60 days, please notify the National Visa Center (NVC) immediately. Please call (603) 334-0700 -
Listen to the recorded messages -
Enter your case number or BCIS receipt number at the appropriate time, and -
You will be connected to an operator for assistance. Note: If visas will be available in your category prior to your son or daughter’s birthday, we will expedite processing of your case in order to ensure that your son or daughter will be able to immigrate with you. Unfortunately, we cannot assist you if visas are not available in your category prior to your son or daughter’s birthday. |
| If you want to notify NVC in writing, NVC’s mailing address is: |
National Visa Center
32 Rochester Avenue
Portsmouth, NH 03801 | Failure to notify NVC that you have a child who will turn 21 could result in that child being above the legal age at the time your visa is issued. In that event, you will be required to file a separate petition for your child after you immigrate, and your son or daughter will face a waiting period before he or she will be eligible for visa processing. |
| The table below provides you with an overview of the steps that take place once you have obtained all your documents and have completed the necessary forms. |
Step # and Action - Mail all requested information using the enclosed envelope.
- The petitioner in your case has been sent instructions concerning completion of the Affidavit of Support (form I-864) and supporting documents needed for financial sponsorship. You may want to contact your petitioner to ensure that these documents are completed and returned to NVC as directed.
- NVC will complete administrative processing of your immigrant visa application. You may be requested to provide additional information if you have incomplete or missing documents.
- Approximately one month before your scheduled interview appointment with a consular officer, you will receive an appointment letter containing the date and time of your visa interview along with instructions for obtaining a medical examination.
Getting your documents back You will receive your original documents back at the time of the visa interview. Note: Only one original or certified copy of each document must be submitted with the visa application. You are advised, however, to obtain the necessary documents in duplicate, as this will enable you to provide identical copies in the event the first set is lost or damaged. |
When to call or write NVC cannot guarantee how long it may be before you are scheduled for an appointment for a visa interview. Please call or write to us if the circumstances of your application have changed. For example: - Change of address
- Change of marital status
- Death of petitioner
- Birth or adoption of additional children, or
- NVC has requested additional information
Note: NVC’s address and telephone number are listed above.
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