Immigrant Visas are granted by U.S. Embassies and Consulates so that a foreign national resdiding abroad may reside permanently in the United States, a process also known as Consular Processing. An immigrant visa is the result of a Visa Petition submitted on behalf of a foreign national by a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident family member or U.S. Employer.
Each Visa Petition is placed into a category depending upon the status of the family sponsor or the skill level of the employment sought. A priority date is then assigned to the Visa Petition according to the date it was filed. The availability of a visa is determined by the government's numerical quota system. Visa availability varies by category and each category has a distinct processing time, issued on a monthly basis by the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin. The only category of foreign nationals who do not have to wait for visa availability are Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens, including spouses, certain children under the age of twenty-one (21), and parents.
Ms. Mody guides clients through this multi-step process, deals directly with the multiple governmental departments and agencies involved, and prepares both the Petitioner and the Beneficiary for Visa Interview at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad. Please contact our office to schedule a consultation regarding Immigrant Visas.