How long after immigrant visa interview

The consular officer will inform you if additional administrative processing is necessary. Based on U. Under U. See Ineligibilities for U. In some instances, the law might allow you to apply for a waiver for the ineligibility. If you are able to apply for such a waiver, the consular officer will advise you on the steps to take. Kentucky Consular Center Information. You are about to leave travel. Department of State. Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.

Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel. Cancel GO. Skip to main content. If you wish to remain on travel. Cancel GO. Skip to main content. Gov Travel. Passports International Travel U. Stay Connected. Law Enforcement. Immigrant Visa Process. Petitioner Applicant Both Petitioner and Applicant.

Important Notice Do not sell your house, car or property, resign from your job, or make non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements, until you have received your immigrant visa.

Passport and Visa Your immigrant visa will be placed on a page in your passport. What do I need to do before I travel? When should I travel? These visa categories are not subject to the visa quota system and will, therefore, always have visas available for the beneficiaries' use if they qualify for visa issuance. Contact the U. Immigrant Visa Wait Times On this page: Overview Overview Every immigrant visa case is different, so it is difficult to estimate how long the process will take for a specific individual.

In general, there are three factors that contribute to the processing time required: Time Required to Process a Petition The time it takes for U. Time for Case to Become Current For certain categories of immigrants, the law allows only a limited number of visas to be issued each year.

Most immigrants will have no choice but to use consular processing as their green card application method , especially if they are already living overseas. People rarely are given an opportunity to enter the U. But a few immigrants who are already living in the United States, in particular those who are either on a valid visa or entered with inspection and are immediate relatives of a U.

This means that you submit your documents and attend your green card interview at a USCIS office, without ever having to visit or interact with a U. Still, many immigrants who are living in the United States are not eligible to use the adjustment of status procedure , in particular those whose permitted stay under a visa has expired or who entered the U.

They will likely be required to leave the U. Unfortunately this creates risks for people who have been living unlawfully in the United States, as described below. Also, be aware that you should not attempt to use a tourist visa to enter the United States hoping to adjust status. That could be considered visa fraud, and lead to a denial of your green card. For immigrants who have lived unlawfully in the U. By leaving the U. Even if they otherwise qualify for a green card, the consulate must, under the law, bar them from reentering the U.

When your relative or employer filled out your I or I petition, or when you filled out your lottery application, your address or other information will have told the U.