What is an Immigrant Visa?
An immigrant visa entitles you to take up permanent residence in the United States. It means you are going to make the United States your principal place of residence for the foreseeable future.
If you are going to the U.S. on a temporary work assignment or to study, even if such stay is for several years, you should not seek an immigrant visa. In that case please consult the non-immigrant visa webpage.
An immigrant visa (or a K-visa) is required of anyone who is not a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident of the United States, and who wishes to enter the United States to reside there permanently, whether or not that person plans to seek employment in the U.S. You can find more information on Immigrant Visas and K-Visas on the website of U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Filing a Petition for an Immigrant Visa
In order to apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen must, in general, be sponsored by a U.S. citizen relative(s), U.S. lawful permanent resident, or by a prospective employer, and be the beneficiary of an approved petition. Therefore, a first step towards obtaining an immigrant visa is filing a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). For information on this step, visit the USCIS website.
U.S. Citizens living in Denmark and who wish to file an I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, will in most cases file the petition directly with the USCIS via mail or courier. Please see the instructions regarding filing the I-130 for further information.
Returning to the United States as a Permanent Resident after a long visit abroad.
In some cases it is recommended that a Permanent Resident obtains a visa before traveling back to the United States after a long visit abroad. Please see the information on Returning Residents.
