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Schedule A Consular ProcessingFrequently Asked QuestionsSchedule A I-140 Consular Processing Overview Flowchart(Adobe PDF)1) What are the steps in the process to get my Immigrant Visa/Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) while I am outside of the United States?
Please see our Consular Processing Basic Step-by-Step.
2) When do I need to get my Health Care Worker/Visa Screen Certificate? Where do I get one?
You will have to have your Visa Screen Certificate at the time of your interview with the Embassy. You should apply for your Visa Screen once your I-140 application is filed with the CIS (or earlier). Applying early will ensure you have the VS prior to your interview.
If you are a Registered Nurse, the only organization that issues the Visa Screen is CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools). You can find the VisaScreen application handbook on their website at www.cgfns.org.
If you are a Physical Therapist, you can either
3) What documents must be sent to the NVC (National Visa Center) for the Packet III?
If you are going to have your interview in either: the Philippines, UAE, Africa, Canada, Albania or Turkey (appointment review processing posts), the NVC requires the following documents:
- Completed DS-230 Part I and Part II for you and each family member (if applicable). You can find the DS-230 forms at the Department of State website or ask your legal assistant for them. *Please be sure to read the form entirely and provide ALL the information it asks for.* - Photocopies of you and your family’s passport identification page(s). - Original Police Clearance Certificate(s) from every country that you have lived in longer than 6 months since you turned 16 years old. This is also needed for each family member. If a child is under the age of 16, no Police Clearance Certificate is required. For instructions on how to obtain Police Clearance Certificates from different countries please go to http://travel.state.gov/visa/reciprocity/index.htm or ask your legal assistant for assistance. *If you are obtaining a Certificate from the Philippines the Police Clearance Certificate should be from the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation.)* - Original or certified true copies of you and your family’s birth certificates - Original or certified true copy of you and your spouse’s marriage certificate (if applicable). - Original or certified true copy of and your spouse’s divorce decree/certificate (if applicable). - Original or certified true copy of you and/or your family’s military records (if applicable). - Original or certified true copy of you and/or your family’s Court and/or Prison Records (if applicable). - Original or certified true copy of you and/or your family’s Deportation Forms I-212 (if applicable).
If you are having your interview in a country not mentioned above the NVC requires:
- Completed DS-230 Part I for you and each family member. You can find the DS-230 forms at the Department of State website (http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/visa/ds0230.pdf) or ask your legal assistant for them. *Please be sure to read the form entirely and provide ALL the information it asks for.* - Photocopies of you and your family’s passport identification page(s).
4a) I’m planning on being married before my green card interview. Does getting married before I receive my green card change the process? Can I have my new spouse added to my application?
Getting married prior to your green card interview does not adversely affect your application. However our strategy depends upon where your case is in the process. Please contact the HLG Attorney or Legal Assistant working on your case.
4b) I’m planning on giving birth to a child before my green card interview. Does having a child affect the process? Can I have my new child added to my application?
Having a child prior to your green card interview does not adversely affect your application. However the process that we will take to add your child to the process depends upon where your case is in the process. Please contact the HLG Attorney or Legal Assistant working on your case.
4c) I’m planning on being married after my green card interview. Can I have my new spouse added to my application?
Getting married after the green card interview means that your new spouse will be unable to obtain a green card. We strongly urge you to marry prior to the interview.
4d) I’m planning on having a child after my green card interview. How does my new child obtain the green card?
We can ordinarily simply file for the green card for the new child. Keep in mind that children born in the US automatically acquire US citizenship.
5) Who can be included as family in my application? Can I include my parents, siblings or other relatives in my application?
Family that can be included in your application as dependents is limited to a spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age. If you become a United States citizen, then you will be able to sponsor for other family members.
6) I have an unmarried child who is about to turn 21. Can they still be included?
Please contact the attorney and/or legal assistant handling your case immediately.
7) Do I have to include my family in the application now or can I just have them added at the interview and pay the NVC fees at that time?
You should list all family members at the beginning of the process. However your family can be included at the time of the interview and their visa fees can be paid at that time, if you fail to list them at the beginning of the process (I-140). Consular officials have been known to get upset when family members are added at the interview and not listed on the I-140.
8) How much is the immigrant visa fee?
The immigrant visa fee is $380 per person and must be paid by a cashier's check or money order made payable to "Department of State.” Alternatively you can send a check to Hammond Law Group and we will obtain the money order. Please note that there is a $5 bank service charge, per person, if you have HLG obtain the money orders.
9a) After receiving my immigrant visa, how quickly must I enter the US?
If your immigrant visa interview is successful you will be given a stamp in your passport. You must enter the US before the date stamped on your passport. Ordinarily that stamp is valid for 6 months. However, it may be valid for less than six months so please check the date of the visa stamp.
9b) Can I go to the United States first and then bring my family over later?
Yes, you can come to the U.S. first. However, your family also will need to enter the US before the date stamped on their passports.
9c) Can my family enter the United States before I enter the US?
No. Your family’s first entry into the US must be either at the same time as your first entry (the nurse) or anytime after your first entry.
10) I recently changed my name. Can I change my name on the application? If so, how?
Yes, you can have your name changed on your application. However, in order for it to be updated on the application you MUST update it within your passport. Please contact the legal assistant handling your case once you have updated your passport for more details on what needs to be provided in order for the name change to take place.
11) What do I need to bring to the interview and what should I expect?
If you are having your interview in either: the Philippines, Africa, the Middle East, Canada, Columbia, Mexico, Ecuador, Ukraine, Peru, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Albania or Turkey, you will need to bring: - The Packet IV provided to you (this shows proof of your interview with the Embassy). - Employment verification letter from sponsor - Your family (if applicable). - You and your family’s (if applicable) original passports. - Medical exams completed by Embassy designated civil surgeon (in some countries this is sent directly from the civil surgeon to the Embassy). - Original VisaScreen Certificate/Type I Certificate. - Two passport style and size photos for you and each family member. - Another set of completed DS-230 Part I and Part II for you and each family member (if applicable). - It is advisable, but not required, to bring copies of the documents you previously submitted to the NVC.
If you are having your interview in a country not mentioned above you will need to bring the following:
- Packet IV mailed to you by the Embassy (this shows proof of your interview with the Embassy). - Employment verification letter from sponsor - Your family (if applicable). - You and your family’s (if applicable) original passports. - Medical Exams completed by Embassy designated civil surgeon (in some countries this is sent directly from the civil surgeon to the Embassy). - Original VisaScreen Certificate/Type I Certificate. - Two passport style and size photos for you and each family member - Completed DS-230 Part I and Part II for you and each family member (if applicable). - Original Police Clearance Certificate(s) from every country you have lived in longer than 6 months since you turned 16 years old. This is also needed for each family member (if applicable). If a child is under the age of 16, no Police Clearance Certificate is required. For instructions on how to obtain Police Clearance Certificates from different countries please go to http://travel.state.gov/visa/reciprocity/index/htm or ask your legal assistant for assistance. *Please note that some police certificates are only valid for 6 months at a time so obtaining them well in advance of your interview may not be advisable.* - Original birth certificate(s) for you and your family (if applicable) - Original marriage certificate (if applicable). - Original divorce decree/certificate (if applicable). - Original military records for you and/or your family (if applicable). - Original Court and/or Prison Records for you and/or your family (if applicable). - Original Deportation Forms I-212 for you and/or your family (if applicable).
NOTE: Please be sure to thoroughly read the Packet IV either provided to you or sent to you directly from the Embassy. If you have any questions about the Packet IV or what documents need to be taken to the interview please contact the attorney or legal assistant handling your case at least a 4-5 days before your interview.
Interviews are generally very basic and only last about 15-30 minutes. The consular officer will review your file and verify that you have passed the medical examination and security background check. Please answer all of the consular officer’s questions honestly.
12) Once I have received the immigrant visa stamp in my passport when do I get my Permanent Resident Card?
The Permanent Resident Card is not issued until you have entered the United States. The card will be sent to the address listed on the DS-230 form you provided to the NVC and Embassy. Generally it takes about 30-60 days for the card to be mailed out after you have entered the United States however the CIS can take up to 6 months to issue it. If you have been in the U.S. longer than 60-90 days and have not received your card please contact the CIS at 1-800-375-5283 or the attorney or legal assistant handling your case.
13) When will I get my Social Security Card?
Answering “yes” to numbers 33a and 33b on the DS-230 form during the immigration process will allow the Social Security Administration to automatically issue your card once you enter the United States. If you answer “yes” to both of these questions the card is usually issued within 3-6 weeks after you enter the U.S. If you do not receive it after 6 weeks please either call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office.
14) How do I check the status of my case?
You can check the status of your case through Hammond Law Group’s online case status system. In order to do so you will need to obtain your Log-In ID and password from the legal assistant handling your case.
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