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Immigrant visas

Family-Based Immigration

The Immigration and Nationality Act allows for the immigration of foreigners to the United States based on relationships to U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents. Family-based immigration falls under two basic categories: unlimited and limited.


Unlimited Family-Based


Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens (IR): Beneficiaries include the spouse, widow(er) and unmarried children under 21 years old of a U.S. Citizen.  It also includes the parents of U.S. Citizens who are 21 years of age or older.


Returning Residents (SB): Immigrants who lived in the United States previously as Legal Permanent Residents and are returning to live in the U.S. after a temporary visit of more than one year abroad.  To qualify for SB status, returning residents must prove that circumstances beyond their control kept them abroad for more than one year.

Limited Family-Based

Family First Preference (F1): Beneficiaries include unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. Citizens, as well as any unmarried minor of less than 21 years old  they may have.


Family Second Preference (F2): Beneficiaries include spouses, minor children, and unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age or older) of Legal Permanent Residents.


Family Third Preference (F3): Beneficiaries include married sons and daughters of U.S. Citizens, as well as their spouses and children.


Family Fourth Preference (F4): Beneficiaries include brothers and sisters of U.S. Citizens, as well as their spouses and children.  U.S. Citizens must be at least 21 years of age to file F4 petitions.


Numerical Limitations

Whenever there are more qualified applicants for a category than there are available numbers, the category will be considered oversubscribed and immigrant visas will be issued in the chronological order in which the petitions were filed until the numerical limit for the category is reached. The filing date of a petition becomes the applicant's priority date. Immigrant visas cannot be issued until an applicant's priority date is reached. In certain heavily oversubscribed categories, there may be a waiting period of several years before a priority date is reached. Check the Visa Bulletin for the latest priority dates.

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- --FEES-- -
The cost for processing each immigrant visa application, regardless of age, is US$400.  Fees must be paid in U.S. dollars or credit cards and are not refundable.  Local currency equivalents are not acceptable.

- --INFORMATION-- -

Walk-in information services for immigrnat visas on Mon - Fri from 1 - 3pm, no appointments is required.

In you already have a pending immigrant visa case and can supply us with the MNG number, you may direct specific questions about existing cases to us by emailing managuaconsulariv@state.gov.  The MNG number should be in the subject line of your email followed by the general nature of your inquiry (e.g., fiancé visa, affidavit of support, etc.).  We will try to respond to your inquiry within two working days.

We recommend you review our Frequently Asked Questions before contacting the Call Center or sending us an email.




 
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