What is an Immigrant Visa?
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 (LPR).
An immigration inspector of U.S. Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security makes the final decision as to whether or not to admit you as an LPR.
Once you are admitted as an LPR, you generally have the right to live and work in the United States permanently. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security will mail your permanent resident card (often called a “green card”) to your new address in the United States, usually within three months of your entry into the United States.
Common Types of Family Immigrant Visas
|
Immediate Relative |
|
|---|---|
|
IR1 |
Spouse of a U.S. Citizen |
|
IR2 |
Child of a U.S. Citizen |
|
IR5 |
Parent of a U.S. Citizen at least 21 years of age |
|
CR1 |
Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (Conditional Status) |
|
CR2 |
Child of a U.S. Citizen (Conditional Status) |
|
Family Sponsored |
|
|---|---|
|
FX1 |
Spouse of a Lawful Permanent Resident |
|
FX2 |
Child of a Lawful Permanent Resident |
|
FX3 |
Child of an FX2 |
|
F24 or F2B |
Unmarried son or daughter (over 21 years of age)of a Lawful Permanent Resident |
|
F25 |
Child of an F2B or F24 |
|
F1 |
Unmarried son or daughter (over 21 years of age) of an American citizen |
|
F3 |
Married son or daughter of an American citizen |
|
F4 |
Brother or sister of an American citizen |
|
Fiancé |
These are really non immigrant visas, but the immigrant visa section processes these because they are similar to immigrant visas |
|---|---|
|
K1 |
Fiancé wishing to marry a US. Citizen in the U.S. and then become legal permanent resident |
|
K2 |
Child of a K1 |
|
K3 |
Spouses of U.S. citizens who have an I-130 on file, which is still being processed by USCIS |
|
K4 |
Child of a K3 |