Start-to-finish help guide to “consular processing” for spouses of U.S. Residents
The Fundamentals
If you’re a U.S. Resident hitched to an internationwide national who’s residing abroad, this guide is for both of you—we’ll get detailed through the entire process of getting the wedding card that is green. This sort of green card application procedure can be commonly called “Consular Processing. ”
If for example the circumstances vary, have a look at our other Start-to-Finish guides, along with our basic breakdown of the wedding green card procedure, all explained in plain language.
Believed time: 11-17 months to have green card (more information on timing)
Not sure if you be eligible for a marriage-based green card? You can examine your eligibility through Boundless without supplying any individual or monetary information. You through every milestone of the marriage-based green card process, starting with your Form I-130 all the way to the finish line when you’re ready to apply, Boundless can guide. Today learn more, or get started.
Perhaps perhaps Not certain that you be eligible for a marriage-based card that is green? Begin by checking your eligibility.
Step One: Sponsorship
The step that is first the marriage-based green card procedure is filing Form I-130 (technically called the “ Petition for Alien Relative”) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), that will be an element of the U.S. Department of Homeland protection. The main intent behind this type would be to establish the presence of a legitimate wedding.
The spouse filing this I-130 kind is named the“petitioner or“sponsor”. ” Here is the partner who’s the U.S. That is current resident. The spouse who’s seeking a green card is called the “beneficiary. ”
National kinds and charges
This task calls for $535 in federal government charges, two kinds, and documents that are supporting
You will have government that is additional, types, and supporting papers for the following actions in this procedure, described below.
As soon as your I-130 filing package is complete, you’ll mail it off to the right USCIS target. Then you’ll get a receipt that is official when you look at the mail from USCIS, often within fourteen days. If USCIS needs more info or papers in order to complete processing your materials, they shall deliver you a “Request for Evidence” (RFE) within 2–3 months.
When USCIS has every thing they require, they typically come to a decision in your sponsorship demand within 7-10 months.
For the flat price of $950, Boundless makes it possible to finish your complete marriage-based card that is greenspousal visa) application — including all necessary kinds and supporting papers, separate lawyer review, and help — through the minute the application is filed and soon you get your green card. Get the full story, or always check your eligibility without supplying any individual or information that is financial.
Step Two: Green Card Application
Next, because the partner seeking a card that is green residing abroad, USCIS transfers the truth to your nationwide Visa Center (NVC), which will be run by the U.S. State dept. The NVC’s work would be to gather the mandatory types and documents and decide if the partner is prepared for a job interview at a U.S. Embassy or consulate abroad (called “consular processing”).
The NVC assigns a unique case number that is then used to identify the case from that point onward after receiving the case from USCIS. For partners of U.S. Residents, the NVC begins processing your situation soon after getting it from USCIS, and after 3-5 months, forwards the scenario up to a U.S. Embassy or consulate within the applicant spouse’s country of residence.
DS-261 and charges
As soon as you get your instance quantity through the NVC, the next thing is to file the DS-261 kind. This is certainly a simple and easy type that|form that is relatively russian bride simple informs their state Department just how to communicate with you, no cost to file it. As much as three months for the NVC to process the DS-261.
Next, you’ll have to spend a complete of $445 online, addressing both their state Department’s application processing cost ($325) and also the monetary help kind charge ($120). It will take as much as a week for the nvc to process your re repayment.
Filing the Visa Application
Once your repayment is processed, it is possible to file the DS-260 (immigrant visa application). You’ll need your instance number, beneficiary ID quantity, and invoice quantity through the initial notice that is welcome the NVC delivered you. As soon as you’ve submitted the DS-260 online, you need to printing the verification web page it to your visa interview at the U.S. Consulate so you can bring.
Once you distribute your DS-260, the NVC a notice out (again via mail or email) confirming receipt of your DS-260, frequently for a passing fancy day.
You’ll then require certainly to submit your supporting documents into the NVC too, that may consist of your monetary sponsorship kind (technically known as an “Affidavit of Support“). According to which consulate is processing the applying, you certainly will either upload, e-mail, or mail most of the supporting documents to the NVC. Always check right here to determine which associated with distribution options connect with you.
In the event that NVC requires extra information or papers to perform your NVC package, they will give you a list of lacking papers, typically within 1–2 months.
Once more, after the NVC has every thing they want, they will typically come to a decision within 3-5 months.
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Step Three: Pre-Interview Demands
After the NVC has completed its processing of one’s NVC package, the file will be utilized in the U.S. Consulate that processes green card applications within the applicant spouse’s home nation. But you can still find a requirements that are few the meeting can happen!
Health Examination
The spouse seeking a green card must have a medical examination performed by a State Department-approved doctor before attending the green card interview. The U.S. Consulate processing the job will give you a summary of these physicians and your meeting notice. The price of this exam differs commonly by nation, but $200 just isn’t uncommon.
When the exam is complete, the physician will offer you a sealed envelope containing your exam outcomes and vaccination record, that you has to take to you towards the interview.
Passport Distribution
The spouse seeking a green card must sign up online with an address to which the passport can be returned after an approved visa stamp is placed in the passport before the interview. Guidelines for passport distribution are published for each consulate’s internet site.
Fingerprinting visit
The spouse seeking a green card must additionally, nations, subscribe to a fingerprinting appointment at a visa application help center (it’s usually a location different through the consulate). This visit is actually for the national federal government to simply take fingerprints of this partner, so that you can conduct back ground and safety checks. These directions will also be published on each consulate’s internet site.
The fingerprinting appointment is usually low-stress and will be regarded as more of a procedural action. The partner looking for a card that is green never be expected questions regarding the wedding or around green card eligibility at this visit. They will just be fingerprinted.
Boundless remains you keep on top of interview preparation, follow-on forms, and every other important milestone along your immigration journey with you until the green card finish line, helping. Get the full story, or check always your eligibility free of charge.
: Interview and Approval
The Green Card Interview
The meeting could be the last major step up the green card application procedure, and it may function as the many stressful and part that is intimidating. Partners might help alleviate this anxiety by once you understand what to anticipate and assembling an arranged file to try the meeting.
A partner residing abroad will go to an meeting at a U.S. Embassy or consulate in country, after getting a scheduled appointment notice utilizing the precise time, date, and location. The sponsoring partner will not go to this meeting.
Have a look at these resources for more information:
Boundless makes it simple to help you finish your marriage-based green card application, but we are able to additionally help you to get prepared for the green card meeting and react to federal federal government concerns. Discover more, or look at your eligibility for a marriage-based card that is green any responsibility.