Frequently Asked Questions
Who requires an Immigrant Visa?
Anyone wishing to live and/or work in the U. S. permanently requires an immigrant visa before travelling to the United States.
What is the status of my case?
Immediate relative visa interviews are scheduled as soon as possible after the Embassy receives the approved petition from the National Visa Center and form DS-2001 “Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants” from the Packet 3. The wait for an interview appointment may be four to six weeks after the Embassy receives the relevant documents. For more specific information about wait times, you may contact us at consularcolombo@state.gov. Please be sure to include the beneficiary’s surname, date of birth and case number in your inquiry. Other immigrant visa categories are scheduled based on when their priority date becomes current. You may visit the visa bulletin page at http://www.cis.gov/ to check whether your priority date is current.
What are the documents I should bring for my Immigrant visa interview?
- Completed Application Form (DS-230 Part II).
Original Birth Certificate (a true copy issued by the Registrar’s office is not an original) & Photocopy.
English Translation of Death Certificate of Spouse and Photocopy.
Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) along with supporting documents – does not apply to most of the Employment based immigrant visa categories. (i.e. last year’s tax returns, letter from employer and letter from bank). Please disregard, if your sponsor has already provided this information.
Employment based immigrants - offer of Employment contract or current letter from prospective employer offering the job.
A current passport valid for six months or more from date of travel to the United States.
Medical Reports.
Do I need a police clearance from other countries where I have lived in the past?
You will need a police clearance from any country where you have lived for more than one year after the age of 16. You do not need a police clearance from the U.S. Please visit the reciprocity table for more information. http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity .You will also need a police clearance from Sri Lanka if you have been resident here for six months or more. Information on applying for a police clearance will be given to you directly by the Embassy.
What happens when I enter the US on an Immigrant Visa?
The immigrant visa package is surrendered to an immigration inspector at the port of entry, at which time the holder will be given forms required to complete an application for a Permanent Resident Card (PRC), commonly known as a "Green Card". That card will normally be mailed to the address of the applicant's final destination in the United States and takes approximately three to six months to process. Persons admitted into the United States as Conditional or Lawful Permanent Residents require no further authorization from the USCIS in order to seek employment. Conditional and Lawful permanent residents will maintain status provided they do not remain outside the U.S. for longer than one year from the last date of departure (two years if holding a Re-entry Permit) and they maintain a bona fide domicile in the United States during the period they are outside the country.
I am an American citizen resident in Sri Lanka with no intention of moving back to the U.S. anytime soon. Should I file an I-130 for my foreign born spouse anyway? Should we apply for an immigrant visa now?
We strongly encourage Americans and legal permanent residents based abroad to file an immigrant visa petition for spouses and children if they think it is possible that they will want to reside in the U.S. in the future. The advantage is that if you are unexpectedly transferred or a family emergency requires you to return to the U.S. quickly, the petition is already on file and your spouse can stay behind and complete the immigrant visa application process without you.Your spouse should NOT make an application for an immigrant visa until you are ready to move back to the U.S. As the petitioner, you must complete an I-130(petition for alien relative) in order for your spouse to be able to apply for an immigrant visa. If you are not domiciled in the U.S., or qualified for one of the exemptions, you will have to demonstrate that you are in the process of transferring your domicile back to the U.S Will I owe customs duty on my household effects when I move to the U.S.?Household effects owned by immigrants for one year or more, as well as personal effects intended for their own use and not containing any prohibited items, such as firearms and drugs, are admitted free of duty. Only very limited quantities of tobacco, spirits and wines can be taken into the United States duty free. See here for more information.Can I work?On entering the United States on an immigrant visa you will require no further authorization from the Department of Homeland Security to take up employment.
How do I become an American citizen?
An immigrant can become an American citizen through naturalization by living in the United States for a specified period, usually five years (three years if married to a U.S. citizen) and passing a naturalization examination. However, there is no requirement that an immigrant become a citizen and he/she is free to live in the United States as long as he/she wishes regardless of his/her citizenship, so long as he/she abides by the laws of the land, which are applicable to citizens and aliens alike.
How do I get a Social Security number?
By law, each immigrant or refugee admitted to the United States must obtain a Social Security number. Social Security numbers are required to work in the U.S., to open a bank account, to pay taxes and for many other purposes. An application for a Social Security number should be made to the local Social Security Office in the area where the immigrant will reside after his/her arrival in the United States. See their website for further information.
How much money can I bring?
There is no limit on the amount of money which may be taken in or out of the United States. However, any amount in excess of $10,000 in currency, travelers checks or negotiable instruments, must be declared to the United States Customs at the time of arrival in or departure from the United States.
The amount of money which may be taken out of the Sri Lanka is a matter under the jurisdiction of the Sri Lankan Government. Further information is available from any bank in Sri Lanka.