All applicants for an immigrant visa must appear in person at the Consular Section for an interview. Depending upon your consulate, once NVC/consulate receives all required documents, usually NVC/Consulate will schedule an interview within 60 to 90 days, if the priority date is current. The principal applicant, petitioner, and attorney/agent of record (if applicable) will each receive a copy of the appointment letter. The appointment letter will indicate the date, time, and location of the immigrant visa interview. Appointments are typically scheduled approximately 5-6 weeks in advance. Applicants are notified of their scheduled appointments through the mail and should come to the Consular Office at their scheduled appointment time.

NVC/Consulate sends "Appointment Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants" (Formerly known as Packet 4) to the applicant. At this time, the NVC has completed processing the case and forwarded it to the assigned U.S. embassy/consulate. Therefore, any questions regarding the interview should be directed to the assigned U.S. embassy/consulate.

This package contains

• Immigrant Visa Appointment Letter, which is a letter giving instructions for immigrant visa applicants to complate a formal application for an immigrant visa
  
  Sample Interview Appointment Letter from NVC
  
  
• Supplement (local form or IVACS form, gives post-specific information, such as location, time, fees, and special procedures for the visa appointment.
  
  
• For Standard Review Posts:
  
  • DS-230 Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Part II Sworn Statement
    
    
  • Poverty guidelines
    
    
  • Domicile for immigrant visa sponsors
    
    
• Photograph instructions
  
  
• Instructions on medical exam instructions (local form).
  
  
• Vaccination requirements
  
  
• VFS Office addresses (Only for India)
  
  

DS-230 part II is signed before a consular officer at the time of interview.

If you can not make this appointment, or you know your documents will be incomplete, please notify the Consular Section right away to be rescheduled.

U.S. Consulates Worldwide

In order to avoid unnecessary delays, it is important for applicants to notify the consular section in writing of any changes in address or other contact information.

The consulate schedules immigrant visa appointments by the middle of each month for the following month (15^th of each month in Mumbai, 10^th of each month in Chennai). A letter to the address of record is sent in each case.

Many consulates also post immigrant visa appointments on their web site every month. Please check currently scheduled appointments to see if you or your relative has an appointment in the near future. If a case number appears on this list, but the applicant has not yet received an appointment letter 14 days before the scheduled visa interview date, you may request the duplicate appointment by emailing the Consulate. In case of the applicants scheduled at the U.S. embassy in New Delhi, a person can also visit the Consular section of the embassy at 4:00 PM on any business day and he/she can obtain a duplicate letter at the inquiries window. In case the applicants scheduled at the U.S. consulate in Mumbai, they can pick up a duplicate appointment letter from the Consulate's Public Information window, Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM, except for Indian and American holidays.

Sample pick up authorization letter

Check appointment Schedule at the U.S. consulates in

• Mumbai, India
  
  
• New Delhi, India
  
  

VFS Process in India before the interview

For rest of the countries: Embassy/Consulate specific interview guidelines

Section 203(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act requires that an intending immigrant pursue his/her visa application within one year from the date s/he is informed that it is possible to do so. When you get the appointment letter, it is their notification to you that it is now possible for you to pursue your application for a visa.

If you fail to do so within one year from the date of the attached letter, your application and any visa petition approved for you will be canceled.

If you or any other members of your family planning to immigrate is turning 21 years of age within the next three months, this may change your or family member's visa status. Under U.S. immigration law, you may be considered an adult rather than a child. Please consult with the Consult Section if this will be an issue in your family's immigrant visa applications.