What is a Immigrant Visa?

An immigrant visa is issued to a foreign national who intends to live and work permanently in a specific country. In most cases, a relative or employer sponsors the individual by filing an application.

Certain applicants such as workers with extraordinary ability, investors, and certain special immigrants can petition on their own behalf.

The application is later forwarded to the appropriate Consulate or Embassy overseas for continued processing and issuance of the immigrant visa to the intending immigrant, if eligible. An intending immigrant must present the immigrant visa at any Country's port-of-entry prior to the expiration of the immigrant visa.