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Immigrant
Visas: GETTING STARTED
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What
is an immigrant visa?
An immigrant visa is a visa that is issued to a person with permission
to enter and live in the United States as a legal permanent resident.
The primary purpose of immigrant visas to the United States is
to reunite family members.
Which
government agencies are involved in immigrant visas?
There are two government agencies involved in immigrant visas:
1. The United States Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS), and
2. The United States Department
of State - in Bolivia the Consular Section of the
U.S. Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia.
In most cases, immigrant visa applicants will work with both agencies
to apply for an immigrant visa.
How
do I obtain an immigrant visa?
There are three ways to obtain an immigrant visa:
1. through your family relationship with a U.S. citizen or legal
permanent resident
2. through employment
3. through the Diversity Lottery.
What is the process for obtaining
an immigrant visa?
There are 3 phases in obtaining an immigrant
visa:
1. Filing a Petition
a. The majority of immigrant visas begin when
a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident or potential future
employer (the petitioner) files a petition for their alien relative
or employee (the beneficiary or visa applicant) with the United
States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in
the U.S. with jurisdiction over their place of residence. In
some cases a petition can be filed at the U.S. Embassy in La
Paz instead of in the U.S. with the USCIS (see Filing
a Petition for details)
b. If USCIS approves the petition, it is forwarded
to the National Visa Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The
National Visa Center then informs the beneficiary (and the petitioner)
that an approved petition has been received and provides instructions
on the next steps.
c. As soon as a visa number is available on
a preference petition (see After a Petition
has been Filed: Document Preparation) or as soon as USCIS
approves an immediate relative petition, the National Visa Center
sends the beneficiary (visa applicant) Instructional Package
for Immigrant Visa Applicants (formerly Packet 3). This includes,
among other things: the Immigrant Visa Supplemental Information
Sheet Form DSL-1083, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien
Registration Form DS-230
and Affidavit of Support Form
I-864.
2. Document Preparation
a. The second stage is for the beneficiary
(visa applicant) to collect all of the necessary documents,
as described in the instructions in the Packet 3. When all documents,
including the notarized Affidavit of Support Form I-864,
are ready, the beneficiary (visa applicant) returns the completed
instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants Form DS-2001 and
Biographic Information Sheet (part I of Form DS-230)
to the National Visa Center. DO NOT SUBMIT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
AT THIS TIME.
b. The National Visa Center will then review
these documents and, if satisfactory, will send the applicant’s
file to the U.S. Embassy in La Paz.
c. Upon receipt of the applicant’s file
the U.S. Embassy in La Paz will send the applicant the Appointment
Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants (formerly Packet 4) (including
information for the visa applicant to make an appointment for
the Medical exam) and schedule a final interview.
3. Final Interview
a. The visa applicant must appear at the U.S.
Embassy in La Paz for the final interview at the designated
interview time, with all supporting documents (see Interview
Information).
b. The applicant must go first to window 5
to verify he/she has all supporting documents.
c. A consular officer will then conduct an
interview with the visa applicant (and the petitioner if the
petitioner chooses to be present), to determine whether he/she
is eligible for the visa. If all documents are in order and
the applicant is found eligible, an immigrant visa will be issued.
The applicant’s passport will remain with the Consular
Section so that the visa may be placed in his/her passport.
d. The applicant will pick up his/her passport
with the visa at Window 5 at 4:30pm the same day of the interview.
After
receiving the immigrant visa, the alien will have 6 months to
travel to the U.S. where he or she will present his/her passport
with the visas to the immigration officer at the port of entry
into the U.S. Once the alien is admitted, the immigration officer
will place a stamp in his or her passport, which indicates that
he or she is now a legal permanent resident of the United States.
The Permanent Resident Card Form I-551 (formerly know as “Green
Card”) will be mailed to the resident alien’s address
in the U.S. (The resident alien’s Social Security card will
also be mailed to his or her address in the U.S.). While the resident
alien is waiting to receive by mail his or her Permanent Resident
Card Form I-551 (“Green Card”), he or she may use
the stamp in his or her passport as proof of legal permanent residency
in the U.S. Please contact the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services for more details regarding travel before obtaining a
“Green Card”.
What
forms and fees are involved in obtaining an immigrant visa?
The cost of an immigrant visa is US$ 380 for processing, per person,
regardless of age. If filing in La Paz there is an additional
$190
filing fee. There may also be fees to obtain required documents,
for certifying or notarizing documents, and for the medical examination.
Fees
US$ 85.00 Fingerprints (fingerprinting is only necessary in some
cases)
US$ 190.00 Petition for Alien Relative Form I-130
US$ 380.00 Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee
US$ 545.00 Petition for Adoption Form I-600
US$ 265.00 Application for IV Waiver when required
US$ 265.00 Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission
into the United States After Deportation or Removal Form I-212
Forms
For a comprehensive list of USCIS forms and fee please visit the
USCIS Immigration
Forms and Fees website.
Back
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If
you have a question that is not covered in the Information on
our webpage, please contact us at consularlapaz@state.gov.
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