Consular Processing Step by Step

If you or a family member is trying to get a U.S. immigrant visa from outside the United States, consular processing is almost certainly the path you will take. It's the standard route for family-based, employment-based, and diversity visa cases where the applicant lives abroad.

Understanding how the process works — from the first form filed to the moment you land in the U.S. — helps you prepare better, avoid costly mistakes, and set realistic expectations for the timeline.

What Is Consular Processing?

Consular processing is the method by which a person outside the United States applies for an immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country (or country of residence). After the visa is issued and they enter the United States, they become a lawful permanent resident.

This is different from adjustment of status, which is how people already inside the U.S. apply for a green card without leaving. If the applicant is currently abroad, consular processing is typically the required route.

The Complete Consular Processing Timeline

Step 1: File Form I-130 (or Other Immigrant Petition)

Everything starts with an immigrant petition. For family-based immigration, this is Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), filed by the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (the "petitioner") with USCIS.

For employment-based cases, the petition is typically Form I-140. For diversity visa winners, no petition is required — their lottery selection initiates the process.

USCIS reviews the petition to verify the qualifying relationship or employment basis. Processing times vary from a few months to over a year depending on the category and USCIS workload.

What you need: Completed I-130 with supporting evidence of the relationship, filing fee (currently $675 for most I-130 filings), and any required supporting documents.

Step 2: USCIS Approves the Petition

When USCIS approves the petition, they send an approval notice (Form I-797) to the petitioner. For immediate relative cases, this triggers the transfer to NVC. For preference category cases, USCIS may hold the approved petition until a visa number becomes available before sending it to NVC.

If the applicant is in a preference category with a long backlog, there may be a wait of months or years at this stage before the case proceeds.

Step 3: Case Transfers to the National Visa Center (NVC)

After approval, USCIS forwards the case to the National Visa Center (NVC) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. NVC is operated by the U.S. Department of State and acts as the processing center between USCIS and the overseas consulate.

NVC sends a welcome letter to the petitioner with the NVC case number and Invoice ID Number (IIN) — both essential for the next steps. This transfer typically takes 2–6 weeks after USCIS approval.

For a full explanation of NVC's role, see our guide on what is the National Visa Center.

Step 4: Pay NVC Fees

Once you have the case number and IIN, log into the CEAC portal at ceac.state.gov and pay the two required NVC fees:

• Immigrant Visa Application Fee: $325 per applicant
• Affidavit of Support Fee: $120 per case

These fees unlock the document submission sections of the portal. For complete fee details and payment instructions, see our NVC fees 2026 guide.

Step 5: Submit Form DS-260

After fees are paid, the applicant completes and submits Form DS-260 (Online Immigrant Visa Application) through the CEAC portal. This is the formal visa application form — it collects biographical information, immigration history, family background, and other details the consular officer will review.

The DS-260 must be formally submitted (not just saved as a draft) through the portal. Save the confirmation page after submission.

Step 6: Gather and Upload Civil Documents

Simultaneously, the petitioner and applicant gather and upload all required civil documents and the Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) through the CEAC portal.

Key documents include:

For the petitioner/sponsor:

• Completed and signed Form I-864
• Federal tax return(s) with all schedules and attachments
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or LPR status
• Proof of income or employment

For the applicant:

• Birth certificate (with certified translation if not in English)
• Passport biographical page
• Police certificate(s) from all countries lived in for 6+ months since age 16
• Marriage certificate and any prior divorce/death certificates (for spousal cases)
• Passport-style photos meeting U.S. visa specifications

See the full NVC document checklist 2026 for a complete itemized list.

Step 7: NVC Reviews Documents

NVC reviews all submitted documents for completeness and compliance with their requirements. This review takes approximately 2–8 weeks under normal conditions, longer during backlog periods.

If any document is rejected — due to missing pages, uncertified translations, expired police certificates, or I-864 errors — NVC issues a "case incomplete" notice. The petitioner or applicant must correct and resubmit, which resets the review clock for that item.

For the most common rejection reasons and how to avoid them, see our guide on why your NVC case is taking so long.

Step 8: Case Becomes Documentarily Qualified (DQ)

When NVC has confirmed that all documents and fees are complete and acceptable, it designates the case documentarily qualified (DQ). This is NVC's final milestone — it means the case file is complete and ready to be sent to the consulate.

For immediate relatives, the case is forwarded to the consulate right away. For preference categories, the case waits at NVC until the applicant's priority date becomes current on the monthly Visa Bulletin. For a full breakdown of DQ status, see our guide on what documentarily qualified means.

Step 9: Case Transfers to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate

NVC forwards the DQ case to the appropriate U.S. embassy or consulate — typically the one with jurisdiction over the applicant's country of residence. From this point, NVC's role is complete and the consulate controls all further steps.

Step 10: Schedule the Medical Examination

Before the visa interview, the applicant must complete a medical examination with a USCIS-designated panel physician. The exam must fall within a specific window before the interview date — usually within 6–12 months, though this varies by consulate.

The medical exam covers:

• General physical health review
• Vaccination records and any required immunizations
• Screening for certain communicable diseases
• Mental health assessment

Results are sealed by the physician and either given to the applicant to bring to the interview or submitted directly to the consulate.

Step 11: Attend the Immigrant Visa Interview

The consulate schedules and conducts the immigrant visa interview. For immediate relatives at most consulates, this is typically scheduled 1–3 months after the case arrives.

At the interview:

• A consular officer reviews the case file and original documents
• The applicant answers questions about their background, relationship (for family cases), and immigration intent
• The officer makes a visa decision — most are approved at the interview

If the officer needs additional documents or requests further review (a "221(g)" hold), there may be a wait of additional weeks or months before a final decision.

Step 12: Visa Issuance

If approved, the consulate retains the passport and stamps the immigrant visa inside it. The passport (with visa) is typically returned within a few days, either in person or by courier.

The immigrant visa is valid for 6 months from the date of issuance, during which the applicant must travel to the United States and make their entry as a lawful permanent resident.

Step 13: Enter the United States

When the applicant arrives at a U.S. port of entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer reviews the case and admits them as a lawful permanent resident. The immigrant visa in the passport serves as temporary evidence of LPR status.

A green card (Permanent Resident Card) is mailed to the applicant's U.S. address within a few weeks of entry. The green card is the official document confirming permanent resident status.

Total Timeline at a Glance (2026)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the difference between consular processing and adjustment of status? Consular processing is for applicants living outside the U.S. who apply for an immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Adjustment of status is for applicants already inside the U.S. who apply for a green card without leaving. Both lead to lawful permanent residence but through different processes. For a detailed comparison, see our guide on consular processing vs adjustment of status.

Do I need an attorney for consular processing? No. Many families complete consular processing without legal representation. The key risks are document errors — particularly with the I-864 and civil documents — that cause delays. A document review tool like NVC File Check can help catch errors before they cost you weeks.

Can I switch from consular processing to adjustment of status? If the applicant enters the U.S. while the case is pending, they may be able to switch to adjustment of status under certain conditions. This is complex and fact-specific. Consult an immigration attorney before making any changes to your processing route.

What happens if the visa is denied at the interview? If denied, the consular officer will explain the reason. Some denials are for grounds of inadmissibility that can be waived through a separate waiver application. Others are final. A denial at the interview does not necessarily mean the case is over — it depends on the reason.

Can children be included in a parent's consular processing case? Yes. Derivative beneficiaries (children of the principal applicant) can often be included in the same case and attend the same interview, provided they meet the eligibility requirements.

What documents do I bring to the immigrant visa interview? Bring originals (not copies) of all civil documents submitted to NVC, your sealed medical exam results if given to you by the physician, your DS-260 confirmation, and your current passport. The consulate's appointment notification letter will specify any additional requirements.