Immigrant Visas
(Permanent U.S. Visas)
This page gives you general information about U.S. immigrant visas which include immigrant visa classifications, immigrant visa processing, supporting documentation for immigrant visa application
Definition of Immigrant Visa:
Generally, visas are classified of two types-immigrant visas and
non-immigrant
visas. Immigrant visas are permanent visas available to any one who wish to live
and work permanently in the United States. It is a document issued by a U.S.
consular officer abroad that allows you to travel to the United States and apply
for admission as a legal permanent 
resident.
General Categories:
The types of immigrant visas available under the U.S. immigration law include:
Immigration through Immediate Relatives:
Immigration through immediate relatives are available to
- Spouses or minor child of US citizens;
- Parent of a U.S. Citizen: U.S. Citizen must be 21 or over;
- Orphan to be adopted by a U.S. citizen residing in the United States;
- Step-parent or child of U.S. Citizen; and
- Spouse of deceased U.S. Citizen
Family-Based Immigration:
- Spouse or Unmarried Son or Daughter of a Lawful Permanent Resident;
- Unmarried Son or Daughter over the age of 21 of a U.S. Citizen;
- Married Son or Daughter of a U.S. Citizen; and
- Brother or Sister of a U.S. Citizen (must be over the age of 21)
Employer-sponsored Immigration:
- certain employees of U.S. Government and employment investors;
- skilled and unskilled workers;
- outstanding professors and researchers;
- certain multinational executives & managers;
- professionals with advanced degrees;
- ministers of religion/religious workers; and
- individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts,
education, business or athletics.
Immigrating as Special Immigrants:
This category of immigration is issued to people belonging to special category
called special immigrants. Every year, around 10,000 immigrant visas are
allotted to people in special situations.
Immigration through Diversity Visa Program:
This category of immigrant visa has been issued by the U.S. Government to the
people from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. Every year
nearly 55,000 immigrant visas are available for eligible candidates.
Excluding diversity visas, all other categories of immigrant visas require a
petition to be filed with the Department Of Homeland Security/USCIS services.
Immigrant Visa Processing:
Usually, an alien must be sponsored by a relative or employer who files the
petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Certain
group of aliens such as special immigrants, investors, and workers with extra
ordinary ability can file self petition.
Obtaining a visa number means the immigrant visa is assigned to the alien. So
getting an immigrant visa number is an essential step in the immigrant visa
processing. In order to get an immigrant visa number, the alien must go through
a multi-step process. First, the applicant has to file a petition with the
USCIS. The next step is the USCIS must approve your filed petition, mostly filed
by an employer or an immediate relative.
Once your petition is approved by the USCIS, you will get an immigrant visa
number. The immediate relatives of the U.S. citizens that include parents,
spouses, and unmarried children under the age of 21 may easily get an immigrant
visa number where as immigrants sponsored by employers have to wait for a visa
to become available according to the preference system.
If you are already in the U.S. you may apply for permanent resident status as
soon as you get the immigrant visa number.
Documents to support an Immigrant Visa Application:
While filing the petition for immigrant visa, the alien has to submit certain
supporting documentation which include
- Personal documents such as a valid passports, birth certificates,
marriage certificates, divorce decrees (if applicable), and police
certificates for countries where the applicant has lived for more than
6 months since age 16.
- Proof of financial support to ensure that the alien will become a
public charge.
- Proof of medical examination-Before the issuance of an immigrant
visa, every applicant must undergo a series of medical test.
Also when the petition is filed, prior to the issuance of immigrant visa, each
applicant must pay a small amount of fees as visa application fee.
Generally, an issued immigrant visa is valid for six months from the date of
issuance. There are possibilities to limit the validity period of visa due to
medical restrictions or some other reasons. If the validity of the issued visa
expires, then a new visa may be issued upon payment of the statutory application
and issuance fees.
We hope this information will be useful to you in obtaining U.S. immigrant
visas. You may send us an e-mail with your comments and suggestions using the
form on the contact page.
