English
Is residence in the US required for the US sponsor?
Yes, as a US sponsor/petitioner, you must maintain your principal residence in the US, which is where you plan to live for the foreseeable future. Living in the US is required for a US sponsor to file the Affidavit of Support, with a few exceptions.
I was a Lawful Permanent Resident when I filed a relative petition, and now I am a US citizen, what do I do?
If you filed a petition for your spouse and/or minor children when you were a lawful permanent resident (LPR), and you are now a US citizen, you must upgrade the petition from family second preference (F2) to immediate relative (IR). You can do this by sending proof of your US citizenship to the National Visa Center (NVC). You need to send:
- A copy of the biodata page of your US passport
- A copy of your certificate of naturalization
What if the Applicant is Ineligible for a Visa?
Certain conditions and activities may make an applicant ineligible for a visa. Examples of these ineligibilities include: drug trafficking; overstaying previous visa; and submitting fraudulent documents. If you are ineligible for a visa, you will be informed by the consular office and advised whether there is a waiver of the ineligibility available to you and what the waiver process is.
What should I do after I have my immigrant visa?
If you are issued an immigrant visa, the consular officer will give you your passport containing the immigrant visa and a sealed packet containing the documents which you provided. If is important that you do not open the sealed packet. Only the US immigration official should open this packet when you enter the United States. You are required to enter the US before the expiration date printed on your visa. When traveling, the primary applicant must enter the US before or at the same time as family members holding visas.