How To Get Us Immigrant Visa

Types Of Educational Visas

Step by Step: US Citizen Spouse Immigrant Visa

Your course of study, the school you plan to attend, or the exchange program you will be with will determine the type of student visa you will need.

The most common student visas are F-1 and M-1 visas.

F-1 visa classification is for a full-time international student pursuing academic studies.
M-1 visa classification is for a full-time international student pursuing vocational studies.

Learn more about studying in the U.S.

Executive Order On Promoting Covid

Executive Order 13988 of January 21, 2021, titled Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel, directs relevant agencies to incorporate, to the extent feasible, CDC recommendations on public modes of transportation and at ports of entry to the United States, including recommendations such as mask-wearing, physical distancing, appropriate ventilation, timely testing, and possibly self-quarantine after U.S. entry.

CBP announced that on it began “enforcing the requirement that travelers wear face masks at all air, land and sea ports of entry in the United States in accordance with President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Order Regarding the Requirement for Persons to Wear Masks While on Public Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs…With limited exceptions, travelers must wear a face mask while physically present at a U.S. air, land, or sea port of entry. CBP Officers will require travelers to temporarily lower their mask during the inspection process to verify their identity.”

See NAFSA’s page on Executive Order 13988 for details.

What Is A Visa

A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the travelers passport, a travel document issued by the travelers country of citizenship.

Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States.

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National Interest Exceptions For Certain Travelers

It may be possible for an individual otherwise covered by one of the geographic COVID-19 travel restriction proclamations to receive a national interest exception to allow travel to the United States.

National Interest Exceptions for F-1 and M-1 students and other nonimmigrants

There are currently four NIE policy statements on travel.state.gov, dated:

Consider the following:

Blanket NIE for F-1 and M-1 students.

F-1 and M-1 students subject to any of the four geographic proclamations benefit from a blanket NIE. The September 15, 2021 statement says that they “are automatically considered for National Interest Exception at the Port of Entry and do not require advance approval of a NIE from an embassy or consulate.” However:

F-1 and M-1 students who were present only in the Schengen Area, United Kingdom, or Ireland are not subject to the August 1 condition. Although not subject to an August 1 condition, the May 12, 2021 statement referenced in the June 24, 2021 statement can be read to imply that these students could be subject to a “no earlier than 30 days before the start of their academic studies” condition. Still, that shouldn’t be too burdensome to meet even for returning continuing students.

Individual NIE for J-1 students, J-1 academics in the professor, research scholar, short-term scholar, or specialist categories, but ECFMG-sponsored J-1 physicans exempt from proclamations.

NIEs for Dependents.

The NIE Statements

Do You Have Questions About Bringing A Spouse To The Usa

Although the United States government has worked hard to streamline it, the immigration process still involves multiple forms and several phases. The keys are patience, persistence, and following instructions exactly. An experienced immigration attorney can help ensure your case proceeds as smoothly and swiftly as possible.

In this discussion, and in all immigration forms you will complete, the spouse who is the United States citizen or green card holder is called the petitioner. The spouse who will be emigrating and who will be getting their own green card is the beneficiary.

The steps in applying for an immigrant visa and green card differ somewhat, depending on whether the petitioner is a citizen or a lawful permanent resident.

Questions About Immigrant Visa Numbers Talk To An Attorney

Immigration matters are complicated and it can be easy to miss opportunities or overlook potential problems. For this reason, it’s a good idea to contact a local immigration attorney to ask any questions you may have about how to get an immigrant visa number or discuss the details of your case.

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Move To The United States

Foreign citizens wishing to immigrate and live permanently in the U.S. must comply with U.S. visa immigration laws, and specific procedures to apply for visas.

At DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is responsible for immigration matters, including naturalization. Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act .

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Do Not Apply For An Immigrant Visa If Youre In The Us

If youre already in the U.S., apply for a Green Card through an adjustment of status. You will not have to return to your home country. You will still have to go through steps like those required for an immigrant visa application:

Someone must sponsor you or file an immigrant petition for you.

Wait until the petition is approved and there is a visa available in your category. Then apply for a Green Card from within the U.S.

You will still need to get a medical examination, go to an interview, and wait for a decision on your application.

Us Immigration Visa Processing Times

How Do I Get a US Work Visa?

Casey USA Resources Policy

If you are planning on applying for a United States visa to immigrate, it is common to question how long it will take for the US Consulate to process this visa.

Note: As of March 2020, United States processing times may take longer than normal due to the effects COVID-19 has had on US immigration offices. Visit our page on the latest impacts Coronavirus has had on US immigration in order to stay up-to-date on this topic. There are several reasons including these COVID-19 restrictions that have caused US immigration application backlogging.

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How Can I Find Out When An Immigrant Visa Number Will Be Available

Each approved visa petition is placed in chronological order according to the date the visa petition was filed. The date the visa petition was filed is known as your priority date. The State Department publishes a bulletin that shows the month and year of the visa petitions they are working on by country and preference category . You can estimate of the amount of time it will take to get an immigrant visa number by comparing your priority date with the date listed in the bulletin. For instance, suppose you look under your country and preference category, and see that the State Department is working on applications they received in May 2003. If your priority date is May 2005, then you may have to wait several more years for an immigrant visa number to become available.

Status Of Visa Processing At The Us Embassy And Consulates In Mexico

Non-Immigrant Visas;

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico have resumed limited processing of nonimmigrant visas.; Applicants should expect a longer-than-normal wait time for this service and plan accordingly.; Applicants applying in the same visa class and whose previous visa expired within the last 48 months may be eligible for interview waiver.; Applicants may schedule a renewal appointment;here.;;;

The U.S. Department of State has extended the validity of visa payments until September 30, 2022, to allow all applicants who were unable to schedule a visa appointment as a result of the suspension of routine consular operations an opportunity to schedule and/or attend a visa appointment with the paid fee.; ;

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Pay The Visa Application Fee

The visa application fee is also called the Machine Readable Visa Fee, or MRV fee. Make sure to review the fee payment instructions available on your embassy or consulate website as methods may vary. In general, however, there are three ways to pay the non-refundable, non-transferrable visa application fee:

In person at an approved bank
Online

During your research, dont worry if you come across the term visa issuance fee based on reciprocity this does not apply for F1, F2, M1, M2, J1 and J2 visa applicants.

Youll be asked for the MRV fee receipt when you get to your visa interview appointment. Some J visa applicants will not need to pay application processing fees if participating in a US Agency for International Development program or a federally funded educational and cultural exchange program with a program serial number beginning G-1, G-2, G-3 or G-7.

What Is An Immigrant Visa

Immigrant visas give its holders the right to stay in the U.S permanently. Whereas with a U.S nonimmigrant visa, the person is required to return to their home country when their visa expires, an immigrant visa does not expire. It allows you to live, work, and study in the U.S or engage in any activity you like.

Once you get the immigrant visa, you do not need to renew it or extend it. It is valid permanently unless you engage in an illegal activity in the U.S to have your immigrant visa revoked. The immigrant visa does not constrain you to stay in the U.S, but you can travel in and out of the U.S anytime you want and not have your visa in danger of being revoked or cancelled as long as you have a valid Re-entry Permit.

Additionally, if you live in the U.S for a specified period of time without any violations, you can also apply for a citizenship and if approved, you will become a U.S citizen.

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Reasons For Immigration To The Usa

Each year, thousands of people apply for a US Green Card to seek their fortune in America. But what exactly is it that makes immigration to the USA so attractive to them? Here are the most common reasons:

The American way of life: The US is still the number one destination for people who are looking to fulfill their dreams. Freedom, democracy, leading a self-determined life, becoming the one that you desire to be all of that is possible in America.

More work opportunities: The largest and most active economy in the world offers an extensive range of career opportunities. Therefore, it is still the right place to pursue the dream of professional growth.

Better education: A multitude of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world is maintained in the US. It is the dream of many ambitious men and women to graduate from one of America’s top universities and colleges.
Better living conditions: The Land of the Free is home to culture, entertainment, technology, nightlife, and much more.
Reuniting with family members: When falling in love with an American citizen, spouses are eligible for immigration to the USA. It is also possible for children, parents, or siblings from abroad to obtain permanent resident status in the United States.
Escaping a troubled country: The United States is one of the preferred immigration countries for individuals who have to flee from war-torn nations to escape danger and dire conditions.

Not All Countries Are Equal

Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the United States as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the United States.

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How Do I Apply For A Us Medical Visa

It is important to note that many US embassies are not issuing visas for medical treatment. It is important to inquire with the embassy you are applying at to find out if they offer this service.

If there are no available appointments or visa appointments for medical treatment, you may want to apply for a visa through the Electronic Visa Update System .

All the best! If you have any questions, please let me know in comments.

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Arrival From Canada Mexico The Caribbean And Bermuda

How to Apply for a US Visitor Visa from Canada

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative covers travel by land, sea, or air from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda:

American citizens entering the U.S. must show a valid passport, U.S. passport card, a;Trusted Traveler Program card , or an enhanced drivers license. If you have any questions, contact your carrier to find out if they require a specific document.
Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. need to show a Permanent Resident Card . A passport is not required.
Citizens of Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda can find the necessary travel documents from the Department of Homeland Security under land and sea entry.

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How Long Does It Take To Get A Us Visa

The US visa processing time depends on the type of visa that you are applying for. It takes from 3 to 5 weeks for a US visa application to get processed. After the processing, the applicant can get a positive reply on their application, and the consulate will deliver the document. The delivery of the visa can take up to two other workdays.

Applications refused under Section 221 of the Immigration and Nationality Act pending additional processing, can take around 60 days from the date of the visa interview to be processed. In some certain cases, the processing might take more than 6 months.

Applicants who are required to apply for a waiver of ineligibility in order to get the visa, should keep in might that they will have to wait for 6 to 8 months from the date of their interview to get a reply.

Whereas, countries under the visa waiver program, applying through Electronic Travel Authorization System for short term visits, can get a reply in their ESTA application within 72 hours.

Essential Steps To Get An Immigrant Visa

In most cases, someone must sponsor you or file an immigrant petition for you.

Wait until the petition is approved and a visa is available in your category. Then apply for an immigrant visa. Do this through a U.S. consulate abroad. Find one in your country in this directory of U.S. consulates.

Get a medical examination.

Another way to seek an immigrant visa is through the Diversity Visa Lottery program. This program lets people from countries with low U.S. immigration rates participate in an annual drawing for an immigrant visa.

Background And Security Checks

U.S. Embassies and Consulates routinely conduct background checks on visa applicants. In some cases, background checks result in significant delays in visa issuance. Please inform International Student and Scholar Services and your department at UT if you experience significant delays in visa issuance.

Us Citizen Applying For Spouse Green Card

If you are a United States citizen, these are the steps you will follow:

Complete Form I-130 and Form I-130A , and send the forms, with supporting documentation and filing fee, to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services .

Once the form is approved, submit a visa application for your spouse to the National Visa Center .

The NVC will process and forward your file to the embassy or consulate nearest to your spouse, which will schedule an interview with your spouse.

At the interview, your spouse answers questions and provides documentation for review. If approved, the embassy or consulate issues an immigration visa.

Your spouse has six months to travel to the United States. On arrival, they present their documents and visa at the port of entry, and can enter the country and join you.

Your spouses green card arrives in the mail several weeks later.

If you have been married less than two years, your spouses green card is conditional and expires after two years. They will have to file a petition for a permanent green card during the 90-day period before the conditional card expires.

Getting A Job In The Us As A Foreign Worker

Based on your skills, circumstances, and the job that you plan to do, you may be able to come to the U.S. as either a:

Temporary or permanent foreign worker, or a
Temporary visitor for business

Under certain circumstances, you may also be able to work in the U.S. if youre a foreign student or an exchange visitor.

Total Processing Time For Spouse Green Card

In a case with no complicating factors::

U.S. Citizen Spouse Green Card processing time currently averages around 12-18 months.
Green Card Holder Spouse Green Card processing time currently averages around 24-36 months.;

This time is from the date of the I-130 filing to the date when the spouse is in the United States and has their green card. Remember that these are estimates only, and waiting periods can vary widely depending on circumstances in your individual case, as well as changes in policies and procedures in the overall immigration process.

Keep in mind that any irregularities in your case can cause long delays and make your case more complicated. These can include any incorrect or missing information in any of the forms you need to file, or any previous immigration issues involving you or your spouse.

Embarking on your new life with your new spouse should be a hopeful and happy time. Make sure the process of bringing your spouse to the United States goes as quickly and smoothly as possible by working with an expert immigration lawyer. Make an appointment for a consultation with Manji Law today!

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