IMMIGRANT VISAS

Each year, citizens of certain countries may apply through a lottery system for the Diversity Visa (DV) to come to the US and obtain permanent resident status. These are people from countries with low rates of immigration to the US. Natives of countries, which have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the past five years, are excluded from this category. The maximum number of immigrant visas available to be issued in this category is 50,000. Winners of the lottery visa are notified by the US State Department's National Visa Center. Upon approval, the winner will be granted [...]

A person who has been granted lawful permanent resident status (Green Card holder), may petition the USCIS for an immigrant visa for spouse or minor unmarried children (under 21), and once the petition is approved the spouse will be notified by the Department of State when a visa number becomes available. If the spouse is outside of the United States at the time of notification, s/he must then go to the local U.S. consulate to complete visa processing. However, if the spouse/children is/are inside the U.S. through a lawful admission or parole and is maintaining that status at the time of [...]

Spouse and unmarried minor children (under 21) of a U.S. citizen are immediately eligible for an immigrant visa if an Alien Relative Petition is approved. Generally, if the spouse and/or the children (under 21) are in the U.S. (through a lawful admission or parole) they may file locally an Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status at the same time. If they are outside the U.S., the U.S. Citizen must file an Alien Relative Petition (I-130) with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and upon approval, the spouse and children will need to go to the nearest U.S. [...]