Consular Processing Procedures
This section covers the steps involved in consulate processing and
the estimated processing times
Application Procedure:
Green Card through the consular processing is
a choice for foreign nationals who
reside outside the United States or in the country but prefer processing at a US
Consulate or a US Embassy for convenience or strategic reasons. The following
steps describe what happens when an individual chooses
consulate processing.
- The first step necessitates that the applicants have an approved immigrant
visa petition. That is, a petitioner files the appropriate form (I-130, I-140,
I-360) with the USCIS inside the United States.
- The request for consulate processing is indicated on the initial petition.
The USCIS will forward the approved petition (I-797C indicating approval for
Form I-130, I-140, I-360) to the National Visa Center (NVC). If a request to
AOS (Adjustment of Status) in the U.S. is indicated on the initial petition,
and the applicant decides to Consular Process in its place, then an I-824
(Request for Action on an Approved Petition) should be filed, which can take
12 months or longer to be approved, necessitating a delay on any further
action until that approval is issued.
Our suggestion: If the applicants think there may be a possibility that they
might want to Consulate process, it's better to request Consulate to begin with,
then change to Adjustment of Status later, as a change of that type requires no
filing of forms or delays.
NOTE: The applicant cannot file for Consulate Processing and Adjustment of
Status simultaneously as both files would stand to be rejected.
- The Visa Center will then send the "Instruction Package for Immigrant
Visa Applicants" to the intending migrant. This package contains
instructions and documents to be filled out by the applicant.
- When the intending migrant has finished the documentation, the completed
forms are then mailed according to the instructions.
- When the applicant's case is received and the priority date is current,
the Consulate will send the intending immigrant "Appointment Package
for Immigrant Visa Applicants", notifying him/her of an interview date and other
requirements, including fingerprinting (if required), and certified
physicians in the area who can complete the required medical test.
- Upon approval and entry to the United States, a U.S. CIS immigration
officer or inspector will place a lawful permanent resident stamp in the
alien's passport indicating the date and port of entry for admission as a
lawful permanent resident of the United States.
The estimated processing time for consular processing is between 5 and 13
months, after your petition for immigrant visa is approved. Approximate time for
processing to issuance varies greatly from Consulate Post to Consulate Post.
Keep in mind that additional miscellaneous costs will be incurred for medical
exams, passport photos, etc. For detailing pricing information, go to our
pricing page or contact us.
For further information about Consular Processing, click on links below....
