1. Submit an I-130 Immigrant Petition - Application Fee: $675 USD

The application for a family-sponsored immigrant visa must be initiated by a relative in the United States. Typically, an eligible U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder) submits Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), on behalf of their immediate family member or other qualified relatives, to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The petitioner can submit the application either by mail or online. When submitting the application, the petitioner needs to provide documents proving the familial relationship, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.

The day USCIS accepts your immigrant petition is your Priority Date. The Priority Date essentially represents your place in line for an immigrant visa. Immigrant visas are issued based on quotas, and certain categories have a limited number of visas available each year. Therefore, the Priority Date determines your position in line and affects when your case can proceed. You can check the visa bulletin to determine when your priority date is current.

2. Begin Immigrant Visa Application at National Visa Center (NVC) Processing

Once the I-130 petition is approved by USCIS, the case is forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC) to begin processing for an immigrant visa.

After NVC receives the case, they will assign you an immigrant visa case number. However, NVC will only begin processing your and your family’s immigrant visa applications when your Priority Date is close or current. Please see the “Date of Filings” on the Visa Bulletin. At that time, NVC will provide you with an Invoice Number and notify you to proceed with the next steps (such as paying fees, submitting Form DS-260, etc.).

If your Priority Date becomes current and you haven’t received instructions from NVC, you can contact NVC. They offer an online inquiry form, where applicants can submit questions and check the status. You will need to provide your case number or I-130 approval number, along with the applicant’s full name and date of birth.

3. Pay Fees

Once your Priority Date becomes current, NVC will provide you with an Invoice Number. You will need to pay the relevant immigrant visa processing fees. These fees can be paid through the NVC online payment system. Generally, immigrant visa applicants need to pay the following fees:

• Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee for family-sponsor green card : $325 USD (non-refundable, per person)

• Affidavit of Support Review Fee: $120 USD

4. Submit Supporting Documents

Applicants must submit Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Electronic Application) through the NVC system and upload supporting documents, including passport photos, civil documents (such as birth certificates, marriage certificates), etc. These documents will be used to verify the applicant’s identity and eligibility. Applicants need to provide accurate information in the form and include their future U.S. address.

Additionally, the U.S. relative who submitted the I-130 petition must provide an Form I-864, the Affidavit of Support, to demonstrate their financial ability to support the immigrant applicant, ensuring that the applicant will not become a public charge in the U.S. All applicants applying for an immigrant visa through a family relationship must have a sponsor submit Form I-864. This includes U.S. citizens or permanent residents petitioning for a spouse, child, parent, or other immediate relative. The sponsor must have sufficient income or assets to support the family member, typically at least 125% of the federal poverty line.

If the sponsor’s income is insufficient, a joint sponsor or personal assets can be used to meet the financial requirements. The sponsor’s income may include wages, investment income, rental income, etc. The sponsor must provide tax returns, pay stubs, and other documents as proof of income. If the sponsor uses assets to meet the financial requirements, the value of the assets should be at least five times the shortfall (or three times in the case of a U.S. citizen spouse).

5. Interview Preparation

After all required documents are confirmed to be complete, NVC will schedule an interview with the immigrant visa applicant at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Only the immigrant visa applicant can attend the interview. You will receive an interview notice, which will list the interview date, time, and location. Upon receiving the interview notice, you need to prepare the supporting documents for the immigrant application and complete a medical examination. Additionally, you will need to complete the courier service registration requirement. This is to ensure that after your visa interview, the U.S. Embassy or Consulate can send your visa, passport, and other important documents to you via courier. You can check the interview requirements for each U.S. Consulate here.

6. Attend Interview

During the interview, you must bring all original documents (such as your passport, medical report, Affidavit of Support, etc.) to the Embassy or Consulate. The visa officer will ask questions based on the applicant’s situation and decide whether to approve the visa.

7. Receive Immigrant Visa and Enter the U.S.

If the visa is approved, the immigrant visa applicant will receive an immigrant visa and an immigrant package. The immigrant package contains documents that need to be provided to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers upon entry into the U.S. You must enter the U.S. within the visa’s validity period. Before entering the U.S., you will need to pay the $235 Immigrant Fee to USCIS. This is to ensure that USCIS can begin processing your green card after you arrive in the U.S. Applicants can pay this fee through USCIS’s myUSCIS account. Payment methods include credit card, debit card, or electronic payment (e-check) from a U.S. bank account. You will need to provide your Alien Registration Number (A-Number) and DOS Case ID, which can be found in the immigrant visa package.

8. Receive your Green Card

Once you enter the U.S., you will become a lawful permanent resident and receive your green card within a few months. If you also applied for a Social Security Card (SSN) when submitting DS-260, the Social Security Administration will mail your SSN card to you after receiving your entry notice.