Individuals and family members seeking a Diversity Visa, or anyone living outside the United States who plans to obtain a marriage-based green card, must complete Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Application.
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This post will discuss everything you need to know about the DS-260 form to aid you with your application, including the following:
Form DS-260 is also known as the immigrant visa and alien registration application. It is the initial stage in the application procedure to become a permanent resident (green card holder) of the United States.
While some individuals already in the United States may be able to apply through adjustment of status, those outside the United States must go through consular processing.
The early steps of consular processing of green card applications are handled by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The US State Department's National Visa Center (NVC) regulates the final phases of application processing.
The submission and approval of your DS-260 form are significant in the consular process, as you can only proceed with the green card application after the NVC approves your DS-260 form.
For higher chances of visa application approval, you can hire an immigration attorney to assist you.
Consult an Immigration Attorney
Foreign nationals may qualify for an immigrant visa in many different ways. Anyone applying for a green card outside the US must complete the DS-260 online form.
Most frequently, petitions are submitted by family members (Form I-130, Petition Alien Relative). The time it takes to process an I-130 depends on the qualifying relationship.
The beneficiary and sponsor must submit all necessary civil documents for the DS-260 process.
| Applicant’s spouse required documents | Sponsoring spouse required documents |
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Depending on your situation and the US embassy in charge of your application, you may be requested to submit additional requirements. Thus, double-checking the NVC notice for any particular needs is always a good idea.
When the National Visa Center notifies your sponsor that their I-130 application has been received, you must complete Form DS-260.
Immigrant visa applicants can complete and file the DS-260 form online. You can find this form by logging in at the US Department of State's Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website.
You will be prompted to enter your case number, which you can find on the notice received from your sponsor.
You can access the rest of Form DS-260 only after inputting this case number.
The DS-260 online form will ask for the following questions:
If you want to see the form and get familiarized with Form DS-260, you can take a look at a DS-260 sample to help you prepare to fill out your application.
Here are some pointers for filling out the DS-260 form:
Involving an immigration expert or lawyer in your immigrant visa petition will help you increase your chances of approval. Hacking Immigration Law, LLC has the best immigration attorneys to guide you in your visa application.
Don't worry if you can't complete the DS-260 in one sitting. You can save your form and continue filling it up later.
You can retrieve your form by doing these steps:
After you've submitted the DS-260 online, you can't change it. So it is best to double-check all of your information before submitting.
You must print and present the confirmation page for your visa interview at the US embassy.
After submitting your DS-260, you must also submit your supporting documents to the National Visa Center.
You will upload, email, or send all supporting documents to the NVC, depending on which consulate is processing the application.
The NVC is responsible for collecting all the forms and documentation required to process your green card application and delivering them to the consulate.
The consulate is in charge of organizing and conducting your immigrant visa interview and reaching a final decision on your petition.
After you've sent your supporting documents, you will usually wait a few months for your visa interview schedule. The NVC or local US embassy will notify you of your interview time and date.
Review your answers before your interview so that the information on Form DS-260 matches your replies.
You have to bring the following documents to your interview:
Within a week, the US embassy or consulate will decide on the outcome of your interview.
Like any other immigration form, Form DS-260 is a bit complex, and you may encounter some troubles while filling it up.
Here's what to do if you have issues with the DS-260 form.
If you see an error on the DS-260 Form, you may contact the National Visa Center, the US Embassy, or the consulate, depending on where your application is being processed.
If you missed filling out a mandatory field, you would be unable to submit the DS-260 form. Ensure that you have entered accurate information on each field.
If you discovered a mistake after you submitted the form, it is okay to rectify minor errors during the interview.
If there are any errors on critical questions, such as the security questions, you may be forced to correct and re-submit the DS-260 form.
Different US Consulates approach things differently. Therefore, it is best to call the consulate ahead of time to inquire about their preference.
Most cases are processed within three months by the National Visa Center, but this varies by circumstance. You'll also be able to track the status of your application online.
You can check your visa application status anytime by entering your case number into the CEAC's Status Tracker. You can also call the National Visa Center to verify the status of your application.
The DS-260 application is an essential step in the US immigration process. Understanding the requirements and how to complete the form accurately can help ensure the smooth progression of your immigrant visa application.
Hiring an immigration attorney is the key to a smooth application process. A skilled immigration lawyer will help you with the paperwork and other complexities of US immigration law.
Look for the best law firm offering immigration services, such as Hacking Immigration Law, LLC. Let them do all the complex work for you to ensure your chances of approval.
