Consular Processing

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Consular Processing Attorneys In Kansas City, Missouri

What is Consular Processing?

The process of applying for an immigrant visa from outside the United States is often referred to as “Consular Processing.” Consular Processing is generally used for people who are living outside of the U.S. who want to become lawful permanent residents (“green card” holders) in the United States. Consular Processing can also be used for some immigrants who entered the U.S. without inspection or parole who are required by law to go abroad to obtain their immigrant visa before re-entering the U.S. as a permanent resident.


When a person applies for an immigrant visa abroad, they will be required to attend an interview at the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate with jurisdiction over their case. During the interview, the consular officer will determine if the applicant’s visa application will be approved. If the visa application is approved, the immigrant will have a special visa stamp sealed into their passport by the Embassy/Consulate and then they will be permitted to enter the United States using that visa stamp. An experienced immigration attorney can assess whether an applicant must Consular Process. 

Call Martinez Immigration Law LLC at 816-491-8105 to schedule a consultation with a lawyer today.

The Consular Processing Steps for Immigrant Visas

  1. Petition Approval: For immigrant visas based on a family relationship, the process begins with a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident relative (usually a spouse, parent, son/daughter, child, or sibling) filing an I-130 “Petition for Alien Relative” Form on their immigrant family member’s behalf with DHS’ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) subagency. Once the I-130 petition is approved by USCIS, the file is then forwarded by USCIS to the U.S. Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing.
  2. NVC Processing: Once the NVC receives the file from USCIS, the NVC will notify the applicant that it is time to pay the requisite fee bills, complete the DS-260 Immigrant Visa (IV) Application form, and submit additional documents in support of the petition. The applicant will need to provide evidence in support of their petition such as civil documents, an I-864 Affidavit of Support form, and proof of the sponsor’s ability to financial provide for the intending immigrant. Once the NVC deems the case to be “documentarily qualified,” the NVC will then forward the file on to the relevant U.S. Embassy or Consulate and the case will be scheduled for the IV interview abroad.
  3. Consular Interview: The applicant must bring all required documents to their interview. During the interview, a consular officer will review the application and ask questions to verify eligibility. The officer will then decide whether to approve or deny the visa application. If the visa application is not approved, the consular officer will inform the applicant of what additional documents or forms may be required.
  4. Visa Issuance: If approved, the immigrant visa will be stamped in the applicant’s passport, allowing them to travel to the U.S. as a permanent resident.
  5. Entering the U.S.: With an approved immigrant visa, the applicant can enter the U.S. within the visa’s printed validity period. Although the applicant will become a lawful permanent resident (“LPR”) upon entering the U.S., they will not be issued their official LPR card unless/until they pay the requisite immigrant visa fee on the USCIS.gov website. After that payment is made online and the immigrant enters the U.S. on the IV, they will then be mailed their LPR card and their social security card inside the U.S.

Consular Processing is an important and often complex process for individuals seeking to enter the U.S. as permanent residents. The attorneys at Martinez Immigration Law LLC have years of experience preparing and submitting immigrant visa applications to the NVC and assisting immigrants through the daunting IV process. Contact Martinez Immigration Law LLC today for a consultation.


Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.

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