All documents should be completed and presented
in the order stated above.
Does the petitioner (U.S.
citizen or legal permanent resident) have to be present for the
interview?
No. The petitioner's presence is required only to file the petition.
The petitioner may also choose be present at the interview, however
we may conduct part of the interview with only the beneficiary
(visa applicant).
Can an attorney accompany
or participate in the Immigrant Visa interview?
No, only the beneficiary, his/her derivatives, a guardian in the
case of a minor, and the petitioner may participate in the Immigrant
Visa interview. A guardian, in the case of a minor, must present
the power of attorney showing they have legal guardianship of
the minor. An applicant may have an attorney assist him/her with
the paperwork; however, the interview is meant only for those
who are listed on the petition.
What happens after the interview if the
visa is issued?
A consular officer conducts an interview with the visa applicant
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 in order to place the visa in the passport.
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 visa
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 the passport, which indicates that the holder 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/her address in the U.S.). While the resident alien
is waiting to receive his/her Permanent Resident Card Form I-551
(“Green Card”) by mail, he/she may use the stamp in
his/her passport as proof of legal permanent residency in the
U.S.
How long is an immigrant
visa valid? What if the applicant must delay arrival in the U.S.?
The Consular Section may issue an immigrant visa with a maximum
validity of six months. This means the applicant has six months
to travel to the United States to live. If an applicant must delay
travel to the U.S. beyond six months, he/she should contact the
Consular Section and arrange to have an interview scheduled closer
to his/her possible departure. If an immigrant visa has already
been issued and circumstances force the alien to remain abroad
longer, the applicant should contact the Consular Section and
request an extension of the immigrant visa's validity. If the
validity of an immigrant visa expires, a new one may be issued
upon payment of the statutory processing fee of US$380.
What happens if the Consular
Officer requests that the applicant return with additional documentation?
Following the interview, if the officer requests additional documentation,
applicants may return on Wednesday mornings at 8:30am with the
additional documents. The applicant will be allowed to enter the
Consular Section with the Refusal Sheet he/she was given at the
interview.
Note: The applicant should bring all documentation
to the interview, not have it mailed to the consular section.
What happens if the beneficiary
misses his/her appointment?
The Immigrant Visa Unit will reschedule the appointment, generally
one or two months from the date when the new appointment is requested.
The beneficiary will be notified by mail of the new date.
