Consular Notification Process

Immigrant Visa Issuance

Stakeholder Teleconference

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Consular Processing for Form DS-230
 All approved DS-230 petitions are sent to the National
Visa Center (NVC) for processing.
 The NVC enters the information into the Consolidated
Consular Database (CCD), assigns a DOS Case
number and sends it to the appropriate consulate or
embassy for visa processing.

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Numerical Limitations of Visas
 Congress dictates how many individuals from each country can
immigrate to the U.S. each year.
 There are more people with approved visa petitions than visas
available based on these limitations, which creates a “waiting
list” and is published in Visa Bulletin.
 Not all petitions are subject to the limitations and resulting
“waiting list.”
 The Visa Bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant
numbers on a monthly basis.

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Post-Approval Processing
After USCIS approves an immigrant visa petition, USCIS
forwards the petition to the National Visa Center (NVC) for
immigrant visa pre-processing

 It may take 2-3 days for a petition to reach NVC.

 All cases forwarded to the NVC are documented and tracked to
ensure proper routing.

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Consular Process
 NVC enters the information into the Consolidated Consular Database
(CCD), assigns a Department of State (DOS) case number and
identifies the appropriate U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
 NVC will house the approved petition until the visa is close to
becoming available per the Visa Bulletin.
 Once the visa number is available, NVC will schedule the interview
and the petition is forwarded to the U.S. Consulate or Embassy.

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Application for Action on an Approved
Application or Petition (Form I-824)
Form I-824 was created to standardize the method by
which an applicant or a petitioner can request certain
actions after USCIS has approved an application or
petition.
 When there is a change in the initial manner of processing
noted on the visa petition.
 When consular notification of an alien’s adjustment of status
is needed so that family members can “Follow-to-Join”.
 When an application for adjustment of status is denied or
abandoned but approval of the visa petition is reaffirmed.

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Basic Requirements
 The underlying application or petition was approved and has not been
denied, revoked or terminated.
 The I-824 application must be filed by:
 The applicant who filed the approved application.
 The petitioner who filed the approved petition.
 The principal I-485 applicant (if Part 2 block ‘C’ is checked).

 Though the regulation does not list any required evidence, the
instructions on the form indicate the following documents should be
attached, if available:
 copy of the original petition or application.
 copy of Form I-797, Notice of Action, for the original petition or
application.

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Requested Actions
 Box A – Request for Duplicate Approval Notice
 The duplicate approval notice will contain only the
information listed on the original Form I-797, Notice of
Action.

 Box B – Notify a Different Consulate or POE

 Only filed for nonimmigrant applications or petitions.
 Consular notification for nonimmigrant petitions go
through the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC).

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Requested Actions, continued
 Box C – Follow-to-Join
 Form I-824 filed by Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) requesting that
the consulate abroad be notified of his/her adjustment of status so that
a spouse and /or children can follow-to-join.
 The beneficiary (principal applicant) of the underlying petition is now
a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) via adjustment of status (I-485
application was approved).

 Box D – Send Approved Immigrant Visa Petition to

NVC
 The petitioner is requesting that the underlying petition be sent to
NVC for consular processing of the immigrant visa.

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Requested Actions, continued
 Box E – Notify DOS of U.S. Citizenship Status
 Form I-824 filed by the petitioner requesting USCIS to notify the
U.S. Department of State that he/she has become a U.S. citizen
through naturalization.

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Consular Processing
 If the applicant has a pending I-485, Application
to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust
Status, he/she cannot pursue consular processing.

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Form I-824 Post Approval Process
 Box A – Request for Duplicate Approval Notice
 The duplicate approval notice will be mailed to the
applicant/petitioner.

 Box B – Notify a Different Consulate or POE

 USCIS will send approval notification for:
 I-129F nonimmigrant petitions to the National Visa
Center.
 All other nonimmigrant petitions are sent to the
Kentucky Consular Center.

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Form I-824 Post Approval Process
 Box C – Follow-to-Join
 Copies will be mailed out to the National Visa Center
with appropriate memos and cover sheets.

 Box D - Send Approved Immigrant Petition to NVC

 The I-130 will be forwarded to the NVC with a copy of
the I-824.

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Form I-824 Post Approval Process
 Box E – Notify DOS of U.S. Citizenship Status
 A copy of the Naturalization Certificate and the
approved I-824 will be mailed out to the National Visa
Center.

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Questions
I paid the filing fee for one case; do I have to pay the same fee for my other
cases?
You must pay the Form I-824 filing fee for each case unless you are a U.S.
citizen with petitions for your spouse and/or child(ren) concurrently in process at
the National Visa Center. Note: payment by cashier's check or money order must
include all fee bills in one return envelope with one check on top.
Who has to pay the AOS fee?
The following categories of immigrants are required to pay the AOS fee:
 Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, unmarried children under age
21, and parents of U.S. citizens age 21and older)
 Family-based preference immigrants (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S.
citizens, spouses and unmarried sons and daughters of permanent resident
aliens, married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and brothers and sisters
of U.S. citizens age 21 and older)

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QUESTIONS?

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