Frequently Asked Questions about Immigrant Visas

General Information

  1. What is the purpose of this site?
  2. I forgot my password. How can I reset my password?
  3. How can I update the email used to login to my account?
  4. Is there a requirement to provide social media identifiers when applying for a U.S. Visa?

Immigrant Visa Information

  1. What is an immigrant visa?
  2. A petition was filed on my behalf to be able to apply for an immigrant visa but is still pending with the USCIS, how can I check the status on the pending petition?
  3. How much does it cost to apply for an immigrant visa?

Immigrant Visa Interview Appointment

  1. My case is at the National Visa Center (NVC), how can I get in touch with them?
  2. How will I know when my interview is scheduled?
  3. What should I bring to the interview?
  4. I had my interview and was refused under Section 221(g) for additional documentation or information. I am ready to submit it – how do I do that? Do I need to come to the Embassy again?
  5. What should I do if I missed my interview?

Visa Document Packets and the Modernized Immigrant Visa

  1. I recently had my immigrant visa interview at the embassy/consulate and received my passport and visa. However, I did not receive a packet of documents in a sealed envelope to take with me on the plane to the United States. My lawyer/petitioner/friends are saying that I can’t fly without one. What should I do?
  2. I don’t remember if I submitted my civil and financial documents electronically or by mail. Is there another way to determine if my visa was issued under the paperless process?
  3. I know other people that have received immigrant visas and they had to hand-carry a sealed envelope to the U.S. Port of Entry. Why is the process different for them?

Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card Holders)

  1. I have a Green Card that is going to expire and I have not received a new one. How can I re-enter the United States? Am I out of status?
  2. I have a Green Card, but I have been outside of the United States for over a year. How do I receive permission to re-enter the United States?

Other Visa Processing Questions

Appointment Availability

  1. I already have a scheduled appointment in the future, but how can I check if there is an earlier appointment available?
  2. Since there are no interview appointments available, should I try to apply in another country?
  3. Is there a limit to the number of times I can access my account to check appointment availability?

Appointment Cancellation

  1. Should I attend my appointment if I received an appointment cancellation notice?
  2. My appointment was canceled. Why didn’t I receive a notification email?
  3. How can I find out if my appointment will be canceled, and how long in advance will I receive an email if it is canceled?

Visa Renewal

  1. I need to renew my visa, but I don’t see the renewal interview waiver qualifying statements. Where can I find the qualifying statements so I don’t have to attend a visa interview?
  2. What is the wait time to issue a visa for visa renewal cases?

Emergency Appointments

  1. I submitted an emergency appointment request, but I am still waiting for an answer.
  2. My emergency appointment request was denied. Can I send another emergency request?
  3. My emergency appointment request was approved, but I cannot attend the appointment on the new date.

Visa Fees

  1. For how long is my visa fee valid to schedule an appointment?
  2. I paid my visa fee, but I do not wish to move forward with my visa application because my travel needs have changed, my appointment has been canceled several times, or because of the long wait time to obtain an appointment. Can I get a refund?

Status of Submitted Visa Applications

  1. I submitted my visa renewal application many weeks/months ago and I want to know the status of my application.
  2. How long will it take to process my visa and to be informed about the status of my visa application?

Other

  1. I received an email that my account was deactivated, what can I do?
  2. If I filled out my DS-160 form in 2020, do I need to fill out a new form for my appointment in 2021?

General Information

  1. What is the purpose of this site?

    Please visit the following information pages to learn more about the services provided on this website for Immigrant Visa applicants and U.S. Legal Permanent Residents:

  2. I forgot my password. How can I reset my password?

    On the 'Sign in or Create an Account’ page click the ‘Forgot your password?’ link. Then enter the email address associated with your user account. We will send you an email with instructions for resetting your password.

  3. How can I update the email used to login to my account?

    Only the account owner can update the email address. The account owner must first login to the account, then in the Actions menu go to ‘Account Settings’ and select ‘Update Email’. If a third party created the account, you must contact them directly to have the email address changed.

  4. Is there a requirement to provide social media identifiers when applying for a U.S. Visa?

    On May 31, 2019, the Department of State updated its immigrant and nonimmigrant visa application forms to request additional information, including social media identifiers, from most U.S. visa applicants worldwide. For more information, please see the Department of State’s responses to Frequently Asked Questions.

Immigrant Visa Information

  1. What is an immigrant visa?

    An immigrant visa is a document issued by the U.S. Department of State that allows you to travel to the United States to apply for admission as a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR). Further information can be found at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

  2. A petition was filed on my behalf to be able to apply for an immigrant visa but is still pending with the USCIS, how can I check the status on the pending petition?

    You can check the status of your application at check the status of a filed immigrant petition at the USCIS website.

    This website and accompanying call center services cannot provide status on the filed petition at USCIS.

  3. How much does it cost to apply for an immigrant visa?

    The fees vary based on the type of visa. For further information, see https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html.

Immigrant Visa Interview Appointment

  1. My case is at the National Visa Center (NVC), how can I get in touch with them?

    You can contact the National Visa Center via e-mail at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/ask-nvc.html. Be sure to include your case number(s) and the applicant’s full given name and surname in your message.

  2. How will I know when my interview is scheduled?

    The National Visa Center (NVC), KCC, or Consular Section will send notification of the date, time, and location of your interview to you, your petitioner, and your attorney when the interview is scheduled.

    For additional information please see https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/interview/interview-prepare.html.

  3. What should I bring to the interview?

    Please follow the instruction letter/email provided to you by the NVC, KCC, or Consular Section that will help you prepare for the interview.

  4. I had my interview and was refused under Section 221(g) for additional documentation or information. I am ready to submit it – how do I do that? Do I need to come to the Embassy again?

    The letter given to you by the Consular Officer at the interview will instruct you how to complete your application. Please follow the instructions in the letter.

  5. What should I do if I missed my interview?

    If you missed your interview appointment, you must sign-in to your account, click “Continue”, select the "Missed My Appointment" link and follow the instructions. Please note that applicants must wait 24 hours before they will be able to request approval to reschedule a missed appointment.

Visa Document Packets and the Modernized Immigrant Visa

  1. I recently had my immigrant visa interview at the embassy/consulate and received my passport and visa. However, I did not receive a packet of documents in a sealed envelope to take with me on the plane to the United States. My lawyer/petitioner/friends are saying that I can’t fly without one. What should I do?

    The Department of State has begun electronic processing of some immigrant visa applications. If either the National Visa Center or the embassy/consulate which conducted your visa interview required that you electronically submit your civil and financial supporting documents via the CEAC portal, then your visa was issued under the new electronic process. Unless specifically informed by the embassy/consulate which interviewed you and issued the visa, you are NOT required to hand-carry a packet of documents in a sealed envelope to present at the U.S. Port of Entry. Be assured that your documents were transmitted electronically from the Department of State to the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (DHS/CBP), the agency that inspects all immigrants entering into the country. When you arrive at Immigration Control at the U.S. Port of Entry, the CBP officers will have access to all of the information required to process your entry into the United States. This new electronic process will streamline the processing of your immigrant visa application and entry to the United States.

  2. I don’t remember if I submitted my civil and financial documents electronically or by mail. Is there another way to determine if my visa was issued under the paperless process?

    Yes. Look at your visa. If you do not need a packet of papers, your visa will have an annotation by the bottom right corner of your picture that says "IV DOCS in CCD".

  3. I know other people that have received immigrant visas and they had to hand-carry a sealed envelope to the U.S. Port of Entry. Why is the process different for them?

    The electronic processing of some immigrant visa applications began in 2018. To convert all the different types of immigrant visas to electronic processing will take several years. Until the process is complete, some immigrant visa holders will still need to hand-carry a packet of documents in a sealed envelope to the U.S. Port of Entry. These individuals will not have the annotation “IV DOCS in CCD” printed in the lower right hand corner of their visa.

Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card Holders)

  1. I have a Green Card that is going to expire and I have not received a new one. How can I re-enter the United States? Am I out of status?

    No. You are not out of status. However, you must apply for a boarding foil for entry to the United States.

    For additional information please see http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/returning-residents.html.

  2. I have a Green Card, but I have been outside of the United States for over a year. How do I receive permission to re-enter the United States?

    You will need to apply for a Returning Resident Visa that will allow you to be admitted into the United States.

    For additional information please see http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/returning-residents.html.

Other Visa Processing Questions

Appointment Availability

  1. I already have a scheduled appointment in the future, but how can I check if there is an earlier appointment available?

    You cannot see appointment availability unless you are actively scheduling an appointment. If you have a scheduled appointment and you want to see if an earlier appointment is available, you must log in to your account on this website (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/), click the Continue button, and select the "Reschedule Appointment" option. The displayed appointment calendar includes available appointments based on your visa class and other criteria. Select the appointment date and time that you prefer and click the Reschedule button. The system will ask you to confirm the change and then present an updated Confirmation and Instructions page. If you choose to retain your current appointment, click the Close button.

  2. Since there are no interview appointments available, should I try to apply in another country?

    We recommend applying in the country where you are a citizen or a legal permanent resident. Currently, most U.S. Embassies and Consulates have limited resources available for processing visa applications; consequently, they are prioritizing the applications of citizens and legal permanent residents.

  3. Is there a limit to the number of times I can access my account to check appointment availability?

    There is no limit on the number of times you can access your account; however, repeatedly refreshing a page inside the system over an extended period of time can lead to the deactivation of your account. Additionally, accessing this website through multiple computers at the same time or using automated or non-human means, such as with bots or scripts, is prohibited by the Terms of Use of the site.

Appointment Cancellation

  1. Should I attend my appointment if I received an appointment cancellation notice?

    You should not attend your consular appointment if you received an appointment cancellation notification. To reschedule your appointment, please sign into your user account on this website (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/), select the "Continue" option, and follow the system instructions under the "Reschedule Appointment" option. If you require further assistance, please refer to the Help section at the bottom of the page.

  2. My appointment was canceled. Why didn’t I receive a notification email?

    When an appointment is canceled, the system automatically sends an email to the email address provided in the appointment scheduling system. In some cases, the provided email address is incorrect, the applicant does not have access to the email address of the user who created the account, or the notification goes to the spam or junk email folder (based on the email account’s configuration). For these reasons, we recommend that applicants check the status of their appointment a day or two before the appointment by logging into this website (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/).

  3. How can I find out if my appointment will be canceled, and how long in advance will I receive an email if it is canceled?

    In general, Consular Sections attempt to cancel appointments at least three weeks in advance; however, given the current changing environment, cancellations can occur less than three weeks before the appointment. We recommend that applicants check the status of their appointment a day or two before the appointment by logging into this website (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/).

Visa Renewal

  1. I need to renew my visa, but I don’t see the renewal interview waiver qualifying statements. Where can I find the qualifying statements so I don’t have to attend a visa interview?

    Applicants qualify for interview waiver based on the information they provide as they proceed through the steps on this website (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/). If no qualifying statements were presented, either you did not qualify for interview waiver, or the interview waiver option is not currently available in the Consular Section where you are applying.

  2. What is the wait time to issue a visa for visa renewal cases?

    Every visa application is unique and processing time varies based on each case. U.S. Embassies and Consulates are operating at reduced capacity and currently have only limited resources available to process visa applications, which may delay issuance of your visa. You can track the status of your visa application at https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC.

Emergency Appointments

  1. I submitted an emergency appointment request, but I am still waiting for an answer.

    Consular Sections are receiving a high number of emergency appointment requests. These requests are reviewed and granted based on the availability of consular officers to process visa applications. If you have not yet received a response to your emergency appointment request, please wait for an answer from the Consular Section as they are working diligently through the backlog of requests. If you do not receive a response, plan on attending your consular interview appointment at the originally scheduled date and time.

  2. My emergency appointment request was denied. Can I send another emergency request?

    In very limited cases, certain Consular Sections may allow applicants to submit more than one emergency appointment request. The best way to check if you are authorized to send another emergency request is to log in to your account on this website (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/). If you do not have the option to submit a new expedite request, you should plan on attending your consular interview appointment at the scheduled date.

  3. My emergency appointment request was approved, but I cannot attend the appointment on the new date.

    Due to the high number of expedite appointment requests, Consular Sections are approving only a limited number of emergency appointment requests. If your emergency appointment request was approved and you received a new appointment, we recommend that you make every effort to attend, as appointment capacity is extremely limited.

    If you cannot attend your emergency appointment, you may cancel the appointment and schedule a new appointment based on available appointment capacity.

Visa Fees

  1. For how long is my visa fee valid to schedule an appointment?

    This visa application fee is normally valid for one year from the date of purchase; however, the U.S. Department of State understands that many visa applicants have paid the visa application processing fee and are still waiting to attend or schedule a visa appointment. For this reason, the visa fee validity has been extended until September 30, 2023 in line with Department of State guidance.

    To check the expiry date of your visa fee, log into your account on this website (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/), click the Continue button, and select the Payment Receipt option. The visa fee expiry date for each applicant is listed on the Payment Receipt.

  2. I paid my visa fee, but I do not wish to move forward with my visa application because my travel needs have changed, my appointment has been canceled several times, or because of the long wait time to obtain an appointment. Can I get a refund?

    Visa fees are non-refundable and non-transferrable. All nonimmigrant visa applicants must pay the visa application fee prior to scheduling an appointment. Before paying the visa fee, applicants are required to acknowledge, by checking a box, that they understand that the visa fee is going to be assigned to the visa applicant and that the fee is non-refundable and non-transferrable (either to another person or for use in another country).

    This visa application fee is normally valid for one year from the date of purchase; however, the U.S. Department of State understands that many visa applicants have paid the visa application processing fee and are still waiting to attend or schedule a visa appointment. For this reason, the visa fee validity has been extended until September 30, 2023 in line with Department of State guidance.

    To check the expiry date of your visa fee, log in to your account on this website (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/), click the Continue button, and select the Payment Receipt option. The visa fee expiry date for each applicant is listed on the Payment Receipt.

Status of Submitted Visa Applications

  1. I submitted my visa renewal application many weeks/months ago and I want to know the status of my application.

    U.S. Embassies and Consulates are operating at reduced capacity and currently have only limited resources available to process visa applications; therefore, the time required to process a visa application and printing an approved U.S. visa is taking longer than normal (in some cases several months).

    After submitting your visa renewal documents or attending a visa interview appointment, you can track the status of your visa application at: https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC.

    Do not call or send an email to Contact Us to ask about the status of your application as they do not have access to this information.

  2. How long will it take to process my visa and to be informed about the status of my visa application?

    Every visa application is unique and processing time varies based on each case. U.S. Embassies and Consulates are operating at reduced capacity and currently have only limited resources available to process visa applications, which may delay issuance of your visa. You can track the status of your visa application at https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC.

Other

  1. I received an email that my account was deactivated, what can I do?

    Login to your account on this website (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/) and follow the instructions provided regarding account reactivation.

  2. If I filled out my DS-160 form in 2020, do I need to fill out a new form for my appointment in 2021?

    Submitted DS-160 forms do not expire. They can be used to apply for a visa many months later, if the information entered on the form is still valid. The same is true for the uploaded photos. Consular Sections will determine at the time the visa application is processed if you need to resubmit a more recent photo.