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. The Application for
Immigrant Visa Form DS-230 Part I must be sent to NVC. All other documents
will be required at the time of you visa interview.
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 contain questions regarding specific biographical
information required for the immigrant visa. A copy of this 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.
Please fill out the DS-230 Part I. If a question does not apply to
you then you must mark it with a N/A.
Please send all the completed DS-230 Part I forms to the National Visa
Center with any other documents requested in this information packet.
Please use the enclosed envelope when returning the
information.
Documents You Need to
Obtain
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. Note:
Do not send any of the documents in this section to the National Visa
Center. You must submit them at the time of your immigrant visa
interview.
Obtain 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 obtain 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.
Passports
A passport must be valid for travel to the United States and must have at
least eight months validity beyond the issuance date of the visa. Children may
be included on a parent’s passport, but if over the age of 16, they must have
their photographs attached to the passport.
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 obtain 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:
-
Complete information regarding the circumstance surrounding the crime of
which the applicant was convicted, and
-
The disposition of the case, including sentence or other penalty or fine
imposed.
Persons who have served in the military forces of any country must obtain 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 obtain 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 obtain 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.
Applicants must obtain English language translations of any documents that
are written in another language.
The translation must include a statement signed by the translator that
states that the:
Children who are about to Reach 21 Years
of Age
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 (DS-230 Part I) 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 all necessary administrative processing of your immigrant
visa application. You may be requested to provide additional information
if you have incomplete or are missing documents.
- Once NVC has finished administrative processing, your immigrant visa file
will be sent to the United States Embassy or Consulate. You will be
notified by mail when this occurs.
- 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.
You will need to bring all your original documents or certified copies at
the time of the visa interview.
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
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