If your Form I-130 has been approved, congratulations! This means that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recognized the validity of your relationship with the intended immigrant beneficiary, and you are one step closer to bringing your family member to the United States. Here’s what you should do next:
- Receive Notice of Approval: You will receive an approval notice from USCIS indicating that your Form I-130 has been approved. This notice might include important information about the next steps and any additional forms or fees that are required.
- Wait for Priority Date to Become Current: If the beneficiary of the approved I-130 is in a preference category (e.g., spouse, child, parent, or sibling of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident), you’ll need to wait until the Priority Date becomes current based on the Visa Bulletin published by the U.S. Department of State. The Visa Bulletin provides information on the availability of immigrant visa numbers for each preference category and country.
- Receive Instructions from the National Visa Center (NVC): Once the Priority Date becomes current, the case will be transferred to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC will send you a notification with instructions on how to proceed. This might include submitting additional forms and fees, providing supporting documents, and completing the DS-260, Online Immigrant Visa Application and Alien Registration.
- Pay Fees and Submit Required Documents: The NVC will provide a list of fees that need to be paid, including the immigrant visa application fee and the affidavit of support processing fee. You will also need to submit various supporting documents, such as passport copies, birth certificates, marriage certificates, police certificates, and medical examination results. Follow the instructions provided by the NVC carefully.
- Wait for Visa Interview: Once the NVC has received all necessary documents and fees, they will schedule an immigrant visa interview for the beneficiary at the appropriate U.S. embassy or consulate. The beneficiary will be notified of the interview date, time, and location.
- Attend Visa Interview: The beneficiary must attend the scheduled visa interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate. During the interview, the consular officer will review the application, ask questions, and assess the beneficiary’s eligibility for the immigrant visa.
- Receive Immigrant Visa: If the visa is approved, the beneficiary will receive the immigrant visa in their passport. This visa allows them to travel to the United States as a permanent resident.
- Travel to the United States: Once the beneficiary receives the immigrant visa, they can travel to the United States. They will go through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection at the port of entry, where they will receive their permanent resident status (green card).
It’s important to note that the process may vary depending on factors such as the relationship between the petitioner and beneficiary, the beneficiary’s country of origin, and any changes in immigration policies. It’s recommended to closely follow the instructions provided by USCIS, the NVC, and the U.S. embassy or consulate throughout the process.
Additionally, if you have specific questions or concerns about your case, it’s a good idea to consult with an immigration attorney or legal expert who can provide personalized guidance based on your situation.
What is a Priority Date?
A Priority Date is a crucial concept in the context of family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visa petitions in the United States. It is assigned to a beneficiary when their sponsoring relative or employer submits a Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) or a Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) on their behalf. The Priority Date essentially establishes the beneficiary’s place in line for an available immigrant visa.
The U.S. immigration system operates on a quota-based system for certain immigrant visa categories. Each category has a limited number of visas available each fiscal year. Because of this, there can be a waiting period between when the petition is approved and when the beneficiary can actually apply for a visa or adjust their status to permanent residency.
Here’s how the Priority Date works:
- Filing the Petition: When the sponsoring relative or employer submits the appropriate petition to USCIS on behalf of the beneficiary, the filing date becomes the Priority Date. This is the date that determines the beneficiary’s place in the queue.
- Visa Bulletin: The U.S. Department of State publishes a Visa Bulletin each month, which contains information about the availability of immigrant visa numbers for various categories and countries. The Bulletin has two main sections: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications.” These dates are used to determine when beneficiaries can take the next steps in their immigration process.
- Priority Date and Visa Bulletin: If the beneficiary’s Priority Date is earlier than the “Final Action Date” listed in the Visa Bulletin for their category and country, it means that a visa number is currently available, and they can proceed with the visa application or adjustment of status process. If the Priority Date is later than the “Final Action Date,” they must wait until it becomes current to move forward.
It’s important to note that the Visa Bulletin can have different dates for different categories and countries, and the waiting times can vary significantly. For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21), there is generally no waiting time because these categories are not subject to numerical limitations.
For family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories, the waiting time can vary based on factors such as the petitioner’s relationship to the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s country of origin, and the overall demand for visas in that category.
In summary, the Priority Date is a key factor in determining when a beneficiary can move forward with their immigrant visa application or adjustment of status to permanent residency. It’s important to regularly check the Visa Bulletin to track the progress of the Priority Date and receive updates on visa availability.
How long does it take to receive instructions from the NVC?
The time it takes to receive instructions from the National Visa Center (NVC) can vary based on several factors, including the type of visa category, the petitioner’s relationship to the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s country of origin, and the overall caseload at the NVC. The processing times could change, so it’s recommended to check the official USCIS and NVC websites for the most up-to-date information. However, I can provide a general idea of what to expect:
- Visa Category: The processing time can vary based on the visa category. For example, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21) typically have faster processing times compared to family-sponsored preference categories or employment-based categories.
- Country of Origin: The demand for immigrant visas can vary by country. If a particular country has a high demand for visas in a specific category, the waiting time for instructions from the NVC might be longer.
- NVC Caseload: The NVC handles a significant number of visa cases, and the processing times can be influenced by the overall volume of cases they are managing.
- Completeness of Documentation: The processing time can also be affected by the completeness and accuracy of the documents submitted to the NVC. Any delays caused by missing or incomplete documentation could extend the processing time.
- Changes in Policies: Immigration policies and procedures can change, affecting the processing times. It’s a good idea to stay updated with any changes from USCIS and NVC.
It was not uncommon for it to take a few months (typically 2 to 6 months) to receive instructions from the NVC after the I-130 petition has been approved. However, this is a general estimate and could vary significantly based on the factors mentioned above.
To get the most accurate and up-to-date information on processing times, you can visit the official USCIS and NVC websites. On the NVC website, you might find a tool called the “Visa Status Check” or a similar feature that allows you to track the progress of your case and get estimated processing times based on your specific case details.