Immigrant visas are permanent visas. Consular processing is the processing of a green card outside the United States. DHS, Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for regulatory guidance for immigrant visa processing.
There are various steps involved in consular processing:
• The first step is an immediate relative petition form, I-130, filed with US immigration.
• Under certain circumstances, you can file an I-130 petition for immediate relatives directly with a US consulate or US embassy outside of the United States. This will save you many months filing an I-130 with USCIS. Listen to our audio on this or speak to Caro to see do you qualify.
• Once an I-130 petition is approved, then your immigrant visa application is forwarded to National Visa Center – NVC. NVC is essentially the middle governmental entity between the consulate and you. When USCIS approves either the I-130 and/or the I-140, the documents are forwarded by USCIS to NVC.
• When NVC has accepted and approved all your documents, the consulate will contact you via email. They will provide the date, time, and place for your consulate interview. They will also request further documents they may need before issuing you with the green card. Do not go to this interview without being prepped; we have audio for these types of interviews and how to prepare yourself.
If the consulate officer approves your green card; they will give you a petition in a sealed envelope. When you enter the United States, CBP will stamp your passport indicating your LPR status.
Several months after your entry into the United States, you will receive your green card by mail. From the day you enter the United States and receive your LPR status stamp, you are permitted to apply for your Social Security number and to work for any employer in the United States and/or open up your own US company. You do not need a visa; your LPR status grants you unrestricted work authorization within the United States.