Embassy of the United States Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

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 United States. U.S. immigration law provides for the issuance of immigrant visas in four general categories: Immediate Relatives, Family- Based, Employment-Based and Diversity Visa Program known as the “green card” lottery.

An important Pamphlet is now available for K-1, K-3, IR-1/CR-1, and F2A categories.  Please read more on "The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act" to learn about your rights and protections, as well as resources available to you.

Immediate Relatives

• Spouses or minor children of U.S. citizens
• Parent of a U.S. Citizen: U.S. Citizen must be 21 or over
• Step-parent or child of U.S. Citizen: Step-parent, step-child relationship must occur before the child’s 18th birthday.
• Spouse of deceased U.S. Citizen:  Petition must be filed within 2 years of the death of the U.S. Citizen

Family-Based Immigration

Persons seeking to immigrate in one of the family based preference categories will qualify for an immigrant status only if they have the necessary relationship to a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident. Visas in this category are subject to limitations and can only be issued when visa numbers are available. Check the following link to view the visa bulletin http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html).

• A U.S. Citizen Unmarried Son or Daughter over the age of 21
• Spouse or Unmarried Son or Daughter of a Lawful Permanent Resident
• Married Son or Daughter of a U.S. Citizen
• Brother or Sister of a U.S. Citizen (U.S. Citizen must be 21 or over)

Employment-Based Immigration

This type of immigrant visa also falls in the numerically limited visa category and is awarded to certain immigrants with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. Professionals with advanced degrees, ministers of religion or religious workers, skilled and unskilled workers, certain employees of U.S. Government and employment investors are eligible. Potential immigrants in this category need to have a job offer in the States and be sponsored by a U.S. Company.

Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (commonly referred to as the Visa Lottery)

This category of Immigrant visa has been introduced by the U.S. Government to allow people from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. to immigrate to the U.S. Qualified candidates are selected at random but will no longer be notified by mail. Starting this year, candidates will need to check their status online using the confirmation number that is obtained at the end of the registration. Every year, 50,000 immigrant visas are available for eligible candidates. Click for more information on the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.

Processing Immigrant Visa

Most petitions are forwarded to post by the NVC (National Visa Center). 

As of August 15, 2011 the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou will no longer receive I-130 "Petitions for Alien Relative" for americans residing in its consular district.  Petitioners should file directly with the USCIS Chicago Lockbox.  Please refer to the page under "Immigrant Visas" to read more on the process. 

When post receives petitions via the NVC, the beneficiary is notified by mail or by phone about further processing steps. More documents will need to be gathered and medical tests made. In any of these cases, the processing time will depend very much on how quickly applicants gather their paperwork and also on the outcome of the medical examinations. In most cases immigrant visas can be processed within a month. Appointments for interviews are set on Wednesdays only except in special circumstances. 

Some petitions for applicants from countries outside of Burkina Faso are forwarded to post by NVC.  These are cases of relocated people who have been living in Burkina for some time. In these cases, immigrant visa beneficiaries will need to bring in civil documents indicating how long they have resided in the country.

Depending on the visa category, the American citizen or LPR petitioner will fill out different petition forms:

• Family-based immigrants: Form I-130 (PDF 52 KB) or I-129F (PDF 192 KB) for fiancé(es), and spouse  visa 
• Adopted children: Form I-800 (PDF 199 KB)
• Employment based immigrants: Form I-140

The current fee for filing a petition is $420.  The immigrant visa processing fee is USD 230 (new fee as of April 13, 2012).  Please read more on the fee changes on our "General" Page.

Documents To Support A Visa Application

All applicants must submit the following documents in support of their Immigrant Visa application:

1. Personal documents: Valid passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees (when applicable), and police certificates for countries where the applicant has lived for more than 6 months since age 16.
2. Evidence of financial support is also required to make sure that the applicant will not become a public charge. This includes the filing of an I-864 (PDF 339 KB), Affidavit of Support.
3. Medical Examinations: Prior to the issuance of an immigrant visa, every applicant, regardless of age must undergo a series of medical tests. A panel physician designated by the Consular Section conducts the examination. Examination costs are borne by the applicant.

For more information on Immigrant Visas in general please, follow this link  http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1326.html.

Visa fees: When the petition I-130 (PDF 52 KB) is filed at post, at the end of the process and before the interview with the Consular Officer, each applicant must pay the visa fee of $230 or its equivalent in CFA. For petitions filed with NVC from the States, beneficiaries do not need to pay the visa fee as it is usually paid directly and a receipt sent with the package.

Although K visas are classified as nonimmigrant visas, the process is similar to that of an immigrant visa. Beneficiaries of this type of visa need to submit further documentation and go through the medical examination. They go through an interview with the Consular Officer after payment of the appropriate visa fee. The current fee for a K visa is $240.00. The decision to issue or refuse the visa is taken at the end of the interview with the Officer. Please follow the link for: 

Spouse and Fiance (e) of an American citizen.

Check this website for more information on adoptions: http://adoption.state.gov/.