Who makes the visa decision?
As a general rule, a decision is taken by the Consulate within 15 days. This period may, in individual cases, be extended up to 30 days and, exceptionally, 60 days, if a more detailed examination of your application and/or additional documents are required.
How do visas get approved?
U.S. law generally requires visa applicants to be interviewed by a consular officer at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. After relevant information is reviewed, the application is approved or denied, based on standards established in U.S. law.
Who approves immigration applications?
USCISThe United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) is the part of the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) responsible for processing citizenship applications. Of the approximately 860,000 green card holders who apply for Citizenship by Naturalization each year, USCIS approves about 23%.
What are the stages of visa processing?
Step 1 – File a Petition with USCIS. ... Step 2 – Case Preparation by the National Visa Center. ... Step 3 – Visa Interview Scheduling by the National Visa Center (NVC) ... Step 4 – Medical Exam. ... Step 5 – The day of the interview. ... Step 6 – Visa Approval. ... Step 7 – After you receive your visa.
How long does visa approval take?
Visa processing takes approximately 21 workdays from the date on which the application is received by the Embassy. A further 2-3 workdays should be allowed for the return of your passport.
Can visa be denied after approval?
Visa Denial Based on Ineligibility Due to Fraud or Misrepresentation. Additionally, the U.S. consular officer can deny an immigrant visa after finding that USCIS erred in approving the underlying immigrant visa petition.
What are the 4 types of visa?
Probably one of the four main types: tourist, immigration, student, or work.
How long is the immigrant visa process?
Generally speaking, a fair timeframe is approximately 6-10 months from the filing of the immigrant petition to approval at the U.S. Consulate. Timeframes can vary depending on backlogs of cases at both the USCIS and the U.S. Consulate abroad.
How long does the immigration process take?
Key Takeaways. On average, it takes anywhere from 18 months to 24 months to complete the naturalization process and become a U.S. citizen.
How do I know my visa is approved after interview?
At the end of your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, the consular officer will inform you whether your visa application is approved or denied. Visa approval - When approved, you will be informed how and when your passport and visa will be returned to you.
What happens after visa application submission?
Once you submit your application, you must wait until the Embassy has made a decision on your case. This process will take two to three weeks depending on nationality (please see Processing Time page on Visa Types section for more information), and provided that a complete file is submitted.
What are the 4 main steps to getting a visa?
The U.S. Department of State issues visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates....Four Steps to Help You Apply for a VisaPay your visa fee,Obtain acceptable photographs,Complete your online DS-160 visa application,Get a list of all required documents you must bring, and.Schedule your visa interview appointment.
What happens if visa gets rejected?
As per some immigrant department of certain countries, you cannot reapply immediately after your visa application was rejected was because the conditions due to which it was refused will not change overnight. Hence, you can only reapply in most cases six months after the refusal of your visa application.
How do visas work?
What is a Visa? The main difference between a visa and a passport is that a visa is an endorsement placed within a passport that grants the holder official permission to enter, leave or stay in a country for a specified time period. The most common visa types are tourist, student, work and transit visas.
How do I know if my visa is approved?
Check the Status of a Visa Application For nonimmigrant visas, call 1-603-334-0888. Or use the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC).
What happens after visa is approved?
If your visa has been approved, you will be informed how and when your passport and visa will be returned to you. Carefully review After the Interview on usvisas.state.gov to learn what to do when you receive your visa, entering the United States, paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee, and other important information.