The exact contents of the Instruction Package (Formerly known as Packet 3) will depend on where the applicant will be interviewed for a visa.

Generally, it may consists of documents such as

• DS-2001 (Formerly known as OF-169). It is an entitled "Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants."
  
  Instructions are different for Canada, Albania, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Africa and for rest of the world.
  
  They are grouped by
  Appointment Review Consulates: Canada, Albania, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Africa
  Standard Review Consulates: Rest of the world
  
  
• DS-2000, Evidence which may be presented to meet the public charge provision of the law.
  
  
• DS-230 Part I: Application for immigrant visa and alien registration - biographic data
  
  
• DS-230 Part II: Application for immigrant visa and alien registration - sworn statement (sent as part of this package only for Appointment Review Consulates).
  
  

Applicants in Appointment Review Consulates must send DS-230 Part I and all the documents listed below to the NVC.

Applicants in Standard Review Consulates must send only DS-230 Part I to NVC. Rest of the documents must be carried in person to the immigrant visa interview.

You must use the enclosed envelope when returning the information. DS-2001 is a two-page optional form to be used by applicants or their agents to notify post or NVC that they are ready for interview. By sending the documents, you inform them that you have had all the documents for Consular Processing and you are ready for the interview, so they can schedule it as soon as they can. Also, provide biographic data so that they can do different checks. Once you have obtained all your documents and have completed the necessary forms:

1. Mail all requested information (only DS-230 Part I for Standard Review Consulates, all documents for Appointment Review Consulates) using the enclosed envelope.
2. The petitioner in your case has been sent instructions concerning completion of the Affidavit of Support (form I-864) and supporting documents needed for financial sponsorship. You may want to contact your petitioner to ensure that these documents are completed and returned to NVC as directed.
3. NVC will complete all necessary administrative processing of your immigrant visa application. You may be requested to provide additional information if you have incomplete or are missing documents.
4. This step is for Standard Review Consulates only. Once NVC has finished administrative processing, your immigrant visa file will be sent to the United States Embassy or Consulate. You will be notified by mail when this occurs.
5. Approximately one month before your scheduled interview appointment with a consular officer, you will receive an appointment letter containing the date and time of your visa interview along with instructions for obtaining a medical examination.

Appointment Review Consulates:
You will receive your original documents back at the time of the visa interview.

Note: Only one original or certified copy of each document must be submitted with the visa application. You are advised, however, to obtain the necessary documents in duplicate, as this will enable you to provide identical copies in the event the first set is lost or damaged.

Standard Review Consulates:
You will need to bring all your original documents or certified copies at the time of the visa interview.

Do not send additional or unsolicited documents unless and until requested by NVC, as it complicates their automated processing and delays the case.

Include a table of contents and tab the documents. It helps NVC staff to process a case more efficiently.

Schedule A cases (Nurses, Physical Therapists)
Clearly mark Employment based third preference (EB3) Schedule A petitions (nurses, physical therapists) as "Schedule A". Priority dates for Schedule A is usually current. However, priority dates for regular EB3 usually have several years of wait time. Marking helps ensure that Schedule A cases are mistakenly not shelved.

Aging out cases
If a child is about to turn 21 years old (age out), the NVC will short-cut the normal process and send the file directly to the consulate, if a visa number is available. It is important to notify NVC of such cases to expedite such case. However, NVC makes no guarantee that such cases will be processed in time.

DS-230 Part I contains questions regarding specific biographical information required for the immigrant visa. A copy of this form will be included with the packet of information.

Each family member that is eligible to travel to the United States with you under this visa classification is required to complete the DS-230 Part I (and Part II as well for Appointment Review Consulates).

Please fill out the DS-230 Part I (and Part II for Appointment Review Consulates) completely. Complete ALL sections of the application. DO NOT leave any question unanswered. This includes all parts of questions 22 and 23. DO NOT use the term "not applicable" or "N/A". Instead write "none" or "never".

Note: Sign the Part I form only. Copies of facsimiles of the signature are not acceptable. Part II form must be signed at the time of your visa interview and not before. Aliens under 14 years of age or one physically incapable of completing an application may be executed by the alien's parent or guardian, or, if the alien has no parent or guardian, by any person having legal custody of, or a legitimate interest in, the alien.

Children, who are able to, should sign their own forms and the parents of children under 16 should also sign the child's name and write "by (father) or (mother)", whichever is appropriate.

If you have any questions on completing the DS-230 Part I or Part II, please contact the National Visa Center (NVC).

Please obtain the original documents or certified copies from an appropriate authority (the issuing entity) for yourself and each family member who will accompany you to the United States. All documents that pertain to your petition are required, even if they were previously submitted to the USCIS with your petition.

Applicants in Standard Review Consulates should NOT send any of the documents in this section to the National Visa Center. You must submit them at the time of your immigrant visa interview.

• Passport
  Following only for applicants in Appointment Review Consulates:
  Submit a photocopy of the biographic data page of you and your individual family members’ passports. This is the page that shows your name and date and place of birth.
  
  Note: Do NOT send your passport(s) to the NVC, just the photocopy of the biographic data page.
  
  More details
  
  
• Birth Certificates
  The original, or certified copy, of the birth record of each family member (yourself, your spouse, and all unmarried children under the age of 21).
  
  Birth records must be presented for all unmarried children under age 21 even if they do not wish to immigrate at this time. (If children are deceased, so state, giving year of death.). If any children were adopted, you must submit a certified copy of the final adoption decree.
  
  Photo copies are acceptable provided the original is available for inspection by the consular officer.
  
  More details
  
  
• Police certificates
  
  
• Deportation
  Applicants who have previously been deported or removed at government expense from the United States must use Form I-212, Permission to Reapply after Deportation and follow the instructions included on that form.
  
  
• Court and prison records
  
  
• Military records
  
  
• Marriage certificate along with a proof of termination of prior marriages
  
  
• Translations
  Applicants must obtain English language translations of any documents that are written in another language.
  
  The translation must include a statement signed by the translator that states that the:
  • Translation is accurate, and
  • Translator is competent to translate.

Important Information
If you have children who intend to immigrate with you to the United States, or to join you in the United States at a later date, please read this important information.

In order to immigrate with you to the United States, or to follow you at a later date, your children must be:

• Unmarried
• Eligible to be listed under your visa classification, and
• Under the age of 21 at the time they enter the United States.

Note: Children of mothers, fathers or spouses of United States citizens, must have separate immigrant visa petitions filed on their behalf.

Notify NVC by telephone
If any of your children will turn 21 within 60 days, please notify the National Visa Center (NVC) immediately. Please call (603) 334-0700

• Listen to the recorded messages
• Enter your case number or USCIS receipt number at the appropriate time, and
• You will be connected to an operator for assistance.

Note: If visas will be available in your category prior to your son or daughter’s birthday, NVC will expedite processing of your case in order to ensure that your son or daughter will be able to immigrate with you. Unfortunately, they cannot assist you if visas are not available in your category prior to your son or daughter’s birthday.

Notify NVC by mail
If you want to notify NVC in writing, NVC’s mailing address is:

National Visa Center
32 Rochester Avenue
Portsmouth, NH 03801

Failure to notify NVC
Failure to notify NVC that you have a child who will turn 21 could result in that child being above the legal age at the time your visa is issued. In that event, you will be required to file a separate petition for your child after you immigrate, and your son or daughter will face a waiting period before he or she will be eligible for visa processing.