Embassy of the United States Paris, France

  Special Announcements

• 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 please see  www.USCIS.gov/immigrantfee.

An immigrant visa is required of anyone who wishes to enter the United States to reside there permanently, whether or not that person plans to seek employment in the U.S.  The filing of an immigrant visa petition is also the initial step required to receive a Permanent Resident card (also known as a “green card”).  An immigrant visa holder who successfully enters the U.S. with the intention to reside there will receive a Permanent resident card during the first year of residency.  In most cases, you can only receive an immigrant visa if someone files an immigrant visa petition on your behalf.  You cannot petition for your own immigrant visa.   

U.S. immigration law provides for the issuance of immigrant visas in four general categories: immediate relatives, family based, employment based and Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (also known as the "green card" lottery). Most immigrant visa category petitions cannot be filed at the U.S. Embassy in Paris.  Employment-based, family based and fiancé(e) visa petitions must be filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States. 

Please click on Categories and Filing Instructions for more information