Embassy of the United States Nassau, Bahamas

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).

Persons seeking to live and work permanently in the United States should apply for an immigrant visa.  In most cases, the applicant must first have either an approved immigrant petition or a selected entry in the Diversity Visa Program.  There are three common methods by which a person may seek to immigrate to the United States:

• Family-based Immigration -- including Fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens
• Employment-based Immigration
• The Diversity Visa Program (the "Visa Lottery")

The Immigrant Visa Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Nassau processes visas for persons who are residents of The Bahamas or the Turks and Caicos Islands. Visa interviews appointments are set by the National Visa Center once the petition has been approved and the case is ready for processing.

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 an immigrant visa recipient 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.

Please click here to see a complete list of types of Immigrant Visas.