I-130 Petitioning Procedures
The first step in applying for an immigrant visa is for the U.S. citizen (petitioner) to file an immigrant visa petition, Form I-130, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the U.S.
When USCIS has approved the petition, it will be forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC). The National Visa Center will send the applicant a detailed list of supporting documents needed to apply for the immigrant visa.
Upon completion, the National Visa Center will forward the petition to a U.S. Embassy abroad. Please note that the National Visa Center will also be responsible for scheduling the applicant for an interview at the Embassy.
For detailed guidance on how to file the I-130 Petition, refer to the USCIS website.