General Information

The Immigrant Visa Unit processes applications for persons who are entitled to live and work permanently in the United States.

In general, there are three avenues for immigrating to the United States: Family-Sponsored, Employment-Based, and the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (also known as the "green card" lottery). For detailed information regarding all categories of Immigrant Visas, please consult the Bureau of Consular Affairs (http://www.travel.state.gov/) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (http://www.uscis.gov/) websites.

New USCIS Immigrant Fee

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.

Lost and Stolen Green Cards

If your alien resident card ("green card") has been lost or stolen, you will need to contact the Immigrant Visa Unit by e-mail: helsinkiIV@state.gov for an appointment. For the scheduled appointment please bring the following:

• A valid passport (if your passport has also been lost/stolen, you must obtain a new passport or other travel document before seeing us);
• 2 recent full face photographs where the applicant is facing the camera directly, size of 5cm x 5cm, color or black and white, and with white background;
• Original police report filed in connection with your loss;
• Credible evidence of your alien resident status;
• Airline ticket (evidence of travel from and back to the U.S.);

Processing time

We will process your case as quickly as we can. However, because of the need to obtain clearances, we cannot guarantee same-day processing. We will contact you at a Finnish telephone number when the Transportation Letter is ready for pickup (we do not make long distance calls outside Finland).

How to contact us

Inquiries regarding immigrant visas can be sent via letter, fax (+358-9-616 25800) or e-mail (helsinkiIV@state.gov) to the Immigrant Visa Unit.