Instructions

1

Qualify for a residence visa through family. If you are an immediate family member of a U.S. citizen, you can apply for a permanent residence visa through your family sponsor. Spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21 and parents of the U.S. citizen all qualify as first priority (IR1) immigrants and can apply for a visa as soon as the I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, filed by the U.S. citizen family member, is approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
2

Qualify for a residence visa through employment. Immigrants who obtain a permanent job offer from a U.S. employer qualify to apply for a residence visa. The U.S. employer must file Form I-140, Petition for Immigrant Worker, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on behalf of their immigrant employee. After the petition is approved, you can apply for a residence visa.
3

Qualify for a residence visa through marriage. Immigrants engaged to U.S. citizens are qualified to apply for a nonimmigrant visa with the condition that it evolves into a permanent resident visa, provided the couple marries within the designated time frame. As with the family and employment visas, a K-1 Fiancé(e) visa requires the approval of Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), filed by the U.S. citizen fiancé(e) with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services before you can apply for the visa.
4

Enter the United States as a refugee or asylee. Refugees and asylees are entitled to apply for permanent residence only after one year of continual residence in the United States.
5

Apply for the Diversity Visa Lottery. The DV lottery is the only application-based visa that does not require a sponsoring petition filed by a U.S. citizen. The DV lottery offers between 5,000 and 5,500 resident visas every year to immigrants randomly selected from the application pool. The DV lottery is only open for nationals of certain countries that are underrepresented in the immigration population in the United States. Application for the DV lottery must be made electronically through the website of the U.S. Department of State. If you are selected as a lottery winner, you can proceed to apply for a resident visa.
6

Attend the visa application interview at the U.S. Consulate General that holds jurisdiction over your area of residence. All resident visa applicants must attend an in-person interview at a U.S. Consulate General before obtaining their visas. The application forms, required documents and evidence will vary depending on the qualifying type of visa. All applicants, however, are required to obtain a medical examination and submit digital fingerprint scans. For complete lists of required forms and documents specific to your visa type, refer to website of the U.S. Department of State.