The United States of America is touted as one of the best countries to live in due to the quality of lifestyle, freedom, security, and business opportunities that abound. Because of that, a lot of people from across the globe have been asking us about how to apply for a USA immigrant visa. We are going to share a few steps here.
A foreigner who wishes to move to the United States on a permanent basis must first apply for a U.S immigrant visa, which gives him/her the right to live and work in the USA as a permanent resident.
Knowing the right visa that suits your immigration objectives should be the first consideration every prospective immigrant must satisfy prior to an American visa application. This article will highlight the necessary steps to apply for a U.S immigrant visa.
How To Apply For a USA Immigrant Visa
Below are the few things you have to do when you want to apply for an American immigrant Visa.
- Choosing The Right Visa
A prospective immigrant who desires to move to the United States of America must first choose the right visa. e.g. A foreigner who enters the US as a tourist is forbidden to seek gainful employment or applying for permanent residency. Knowing the right visa that suits your immigration objectives will save you considerable time and effort.
There are several Immigrant visas, each with a unique form and requirement. During the U.S.A visa application, applicants who have a valid job offer from a US employer or resident family members are prioritized.
However, applicants without a valid job offer and residents’ family members can also apply for an immigrant visa in several other categories such as the Asylum visa.
If you have a family member living and working in the US as an American citizen or permanent resident, applying through the Family visa category is the best option where your family member can sponsor your application.
Your sponsor is required to download and fill the form I-30 through the Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and petition the US government for Alien Relative.
It is advisable to get the help of an immigration expert/consultant to help expedite the application process if your sponsor has not sponsored anyone before.
However, if you have a valid job offer and you are applying under the employment-based category, then the prospective employer will be the sponsorer.
The US employer will have to download the form I-40 from the US citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website, and petition for an Alien Worker.
After your petition meets the approval of the USCIS, it will be forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing. All supporting documents and non-refundable processing fees are required to be paid.
Pay The Required Fees And Submit All Supporting Documents
The information in your application must be supported by documentary proof which you are required to submit alongside your application to the NVC.
Note: The visa fees and supporting documents requirements may change without prior notice, it is advisable to visit the official USCIS website Here to stay updated.
According to the USCIS, a medical examination is required to ascertain you do not pose a health risk to the public. You will be screened for traces of any communicable diseases and the required vaccinations will be administered.
As part of the vetting process, you must submit your medical report to the consular office on the day of your scheduled visa interview.
Note: The medical examination result is only valid for six months. Another thing to do if you need to learn how to apply for an immigrant visa in the USA is to.
Attend The Scheduled Visa Interview
Attending a visa interview is the final stage of your visa application. During the interview, you will be asked questions about your application and your supporting documents reviewed.
The consular officer will decide if your visa application gets approved or denied, so ensure the information provided in your application is accurate.
Upon your application getting approval, your U.S visa will be made available within a few days, and valid for 6 months.
We believe the steps above on how to apply for a USA immigrant visa were helpful to you.
