Immigrant Visas
General Information
Effective February 1, 2013, all individuals issued immigrant visas overseas must pay a $ 165.00 USCIS Immigrant Fee before traveling to the United States. Only prospective adoptive parents whose child(ren) is/are entering the United States under either the Orphan or Hague Process, Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants who were employed by the U.S. government, returning residents, and those issued K visas are exempt from the new fee. The below USCIS website has more details on the new fee, including contact information for USCIS, if there are further questions: www.USCIS.gov/immigrantfee.
For questions regarding Immigrant Visas, please call 807 488 472 for general information or contact e-mail ivmadrid@state.gov for open cases.
Due to the increase in the Spanish VAT (IVA), the new prices per minute are €1.21 from landline and €1.58 from mobile phone
The change is effective starting September 1st.
What is an Immigrant Visa?
An immigrant visa is required for anyone who wishes to enter the United States to reside there permanently, whether or not that person plans to seek employment in the United States. An immigrant visa is a document issued by a U.S. consular officer abroad that allows you to travel to the United States and apply for admission as a legal permanent resident.
How to apply for an Immigrant Visa?
In general, in order to be eligible to apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen relative or by a prospective employer. Additionally the Diversity Visa provides a certain number of permanent resident visas annually.
The Immigration and Nationality Act allows the immigration of foreigners to the United States based on relationship to a U.S. citizen. Family-based immigrants fall under two categories: unlimited and limited.
- Unlimited Family-based immigrants are the immediate relatives (IR) of the U.S. citizens: The spouse, widow(er), unmarried children under 21 and parents of a U.S. citizen who is 21 or older. Immigrant Visas - Immediate Relatives.
- Limited Family-based immigrants are other relatives:
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First Preference (F1). Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their children, if any.
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Second Preference (F2). Spouses, minor children and unmarried sons and daughters of lawful permanent residents.
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Third Preference (F3). Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and children.
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Fourth Preference (F4) Brothers and sisters of United States citizens, and their spouses and children, provided the U.S. citizens are at least 21 years of age.
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More info:
For more information, please check the State Department web page.
The U.S. Embassy in Madrid is located at:
Serrano 75
28006 Madrid
Metro: Rubén Darío
Telephone inquiries:
Beginning May 1st, 2011, the U.S. Embassy in Madrid will no/no longer accept public phone calls regarding Immigrant Visas. For general information regarding immigrant visas please call 807 488 472 from inside Spain and Andorra, (011) 49 9131 772 2087 from the United States, international access code + 49 9131 772 2087 from other countries. This service is available Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Spanish time. From callers in Spain the cost is 1,16 Euro per minute if you call from a landline telephone and 1,51 Euro per minute from a mobile phone, including all taxes costs. International callers will pay 10 Euro per transaction, which they can charge to Visa or MasterCard. In both cases, the first 20 seconds of the call is free.
If your immigrant visa case is already in our office in Madrid, you should send your questions to ivmadrid@state.gov.
Notice: Please note that this e-mail is for Immigrant Visas only, including petitions for immediate relatives, family members, and other petitions filed with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Other inquiries submitted to this e-mail will not receive a response. All questions and inquiries for Non-Immigrant Visas should be directed to 807 488 472 during business hours.
Please include the following information in your request:
- Case # (If known):
- Petitioner’s name (US family member):
- Applicant Surnames:
- Applicant First names:
- Applicant DOB:
- Applicant Address:
- Applicant telephone (home):
- Applicant telephone (mobile):
- Applicant email (1):
- Applicant email (2):
- Question:
The Embassy is closed on Spanish and U.S. Holidays.
For further information, please refer to the Consular Affairs web site, which provides complete information on all types of immigrant visas, adoptions, immigrant visas processing and visa denials.
In the U.S. you may also call:
National Visa Center:
603-334-0700
Web page.
Immigrant Visa Cut-off dates:
202-663-1541
General visa inquiries:
202-663-1225
Attention Consular and Visa Applicants
Limits on Personal Items
Recent worldwide terrorism events have created the necessity for restricting luggage, back packs, or carry bags being brought into the Embassy Consular Section. Please DO NOT attempt to bring these items inside. The guard has been instructed to prevent access of any luggage or carry bags or packs unless there is a clearly demonstrated emergency or medical need that is authorized by the Consular Officer or the Regional Security Officer.
Applicants only will be granted entry
Due to the large number of individuals seeking assistance in the Consular Section, only those individuals specifically scheduled for a nonimmigrant or immigrant visa interview, or American citizens or those requiring assistance from the American Citizens Services or Homeland Security Department/ICE will be granted entry into the Consular Section. Please ask accompanying family or friends to wait for you in a nearby location.
We appreciate your cooperation and regret any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you.