IMMIGRANT VISAS
Documents for Immigrant Visa Application
The following documents are usually needed when applying for an immigrant visa:
Passport. Your passport must be valid to travel to the
United States and must have at least eight months of validity beyond the
issuance date of the visa. Children may be included in a parent’s passport,
but, if over the age of 16, they must have their photographs attached to the
passport.
Birth Certificate. An original or certified copy, of the
birth certificate of each family member (yourself, your spouse, and all
unmarried children under the age of 21). The certificate must state the date
and place of birth and the names of both parents.
Unobtainable Birth Certificate. In rare cases, it may
be impossible to obtain a birth certificate because records have been
destroyed or the government will not issue one. In such cases, you should
obtain a statement to that effect from the civil registrar’s office and
obtain a secondary evidence of birth. For example:
A baptismal certificate that contains the data and
place of birth and both parents’ names providing the baptism took place
shortly after birth.
An adoption decree for an adopted child.
An affidavit from a close relative, preferably the
applicant’s mother, stating the date and place of birth, both parents’
names and mother’s maiden name. An affidavit must be executed before an
official authorized to take oaths or affirmations.
Police Certificate. (Please note that the
original document will not be returned). Each applicant aged 16 years and
older is required to submit a police certificate from his or her country of
current residence, if residing there more than six months. Police certificates
are also required from countries of previous residence, if residence there was
for more than one year. Police certificates from certain countries are
considered unavailable; the consular office can advise you about these
particular countries. For information regarding obtaining the Spanish police
certificate, please see specific
information.
Court and Prison Records. If you have been convicted of
a crime, you must obtain a certified copy of each court record, regardless of
the fact that whether you may have benefited subsequently from an amnesty,
pardon or other act of clemency.
Military Record. If you have served in the military
forces of any country, you must obtain one copy of your military record, if
available.
Photographs. All immigrant visa applicants, regardless
their age, must bring three color passport size photographs (5X5 cm.), white
background and taken within the past six months. No head covering or dark
glasses should be worn.
Evidence of Support. Form I-864 or I-864
EZ and a copy of the most recent income tax return. Evidence of assets should
be provided, if needed. Either form I-864 or I-864 EZ are the most common
contractual Affidavit of Supports that have to be submitted for most
family-based applicants and employment-based applicants when a relative is the
petitioner or has ownership interest in the petitioning business. See
Form I-864 Package, Affidavit of Support Package (Forms I-864, I-864A, I-864P,
I-865) for more information.
Marriage Certificate. Married couples are required to
present an original, or a certified copy of their marriage certificates.
Applicants who have been previously married must obtain evidence of the
termination of EACH previous marriage (e.g., death certificate or divorce
decree).
Translations. All documents not in English or in Spanish,
must be accompanied by certified English translations. Translations must be
certified by a competent translator and sworn before a Notary Public.
Fee. The fee for an immigrant visa is U.S. $400 dollars
or the local currency equivalent. Each applicant must be prepared to pay this
fee on the appointment date. We accept the following credit cards: Visa,
Master Card, Discover, American Express and Diners Club International. The fee
is not refundable. For those whose application is processed through the
National Visa Center (NVC), instructions on fee payment will be sent to them
with the form DS-3032, Choice of Address and Agent Form. The pay has to be
done before the NVC begin processing the case.
If you wish to retain an original document, you may submit
a photocopy but you must bring with you the original for inspection by the
consular officer. You are strongly urged to personally keep a duplicate file
copy of all documents submitted in connection with your visa application.
Do not send any document in advance. You must submit them in person at the time of your immigrant
visa interview.
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