Consular Processing Work After Approval of a Petition

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You may have to go through a process known as Consular Processing if you want to come to the United States and get a green card for legal permanent residence. 

Once you get your immigrant visa petition approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and an immigrant visa number is immediately available to you, there are two ways to apply for lawful permanent resident status (a Green Card). 

What is consular processing?

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If you are outside of the US, you can apply at the US Department of State consulate abroad for an immigrant visa in order to come to the United States and be admitted as a permanent resident.

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How does consular processing work after approval of a petition?

The most common immigrant visa routes are through filing I-130 petition (for alien relatives) and I-140 petition (Immigrant petition for alien worker). There are a lot of questions asked from us about the immigration process after your immigrant petition is approved. Let us see the process of consular processing if your immigrant petition is approved.

When your immigrant visa is approved, and you live outside of the US or live in the US but want to apply for an immigrant visa outside the US, the USCIS will send the approved petition to the Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC). 

Notification from National Visa Centre

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Go for Consular Processing Interview

You will receive your green card once you come to the US and have paid the USCIS immigrant fees. You will get a mail from the USCIS at your address, but if you do not receive your Green Card within 45 days of your arrival, you can directly contact the USCIS contact center at 800-375-5283.

When will I receive my green card? 

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Immigrants may apply for a green card via consular processing if they have a family who is already a US citizen and can file a petition on their behalf or if they have found work in the US. However, it is very much crucial to know the process workflow beforehand and be ready with all the required documents required in the process.