US Immigrant Visas
What You Need to Know About US Immigrant Visas
All foreign nationals who wish to permanently reside in the United States, regardless of whether they plan to seek employment in the United States, are required to obtain an immigrant visa. Also known as a residence visa and a settlement visa, 3,210 applications from Ankara were approved for the immigrant visa in 2023.
A foreign national who wishes to apply for an immigrant visa must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen, immediate family member lawfully residing in the United States, or potential U.S. employer, and the sponsor must initiate the process by filing a petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to applying for a visa.
What are the Types of US Immigrant Visas?
The types of visas that can be obtained within the US immigration categories are listed below.
- US family sponsorship visas
- US fiance visa
- US employer sponsored visas
- America diversity visa (Green card lottery)
US Family Sponsorship Visas
American family sponsorship visas mean you will join immediate family members, such as a parent or spouse, who are living permanently in the United States.
Individuals who have family in the United States or are married to a U.S. citizen are eligible for the family sponsorship immigrant visa category and may be eligible for a U.S. family reunification visa .
US Fiance Visa
The K1 visa, also known as the American fiancé visa, is granted to a person who is engaged to a US citizen to travel to the US for 90 days.
People who are in the country with a US K1 visa for 90 days must get married within this period in order to obtain a spouse visa.
US Employer Sponsored Visas
Employer-sponsored visas are immigrant visas that allow holders to work permanently in the United States.
The U.S. government limits the number of employment-based visas it issues to approximately 140,000 U.S. immigrant work visas per fiscal year.
America Diversity Visa (Green Card Lottery)
Under the U.S. diversity visa program, foreign nationals from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States are eligible to apply for permanent resident status.
The number of visas granted through the program, also known as the green card lottery, is limited to 50,000, and applicants are randomly selected based on the number of visas available per region or country. There are certain eligibility criteria for the US diversity visa , and being selected through the lottery does not guarantee that the applicant will be granted a visa.
Where to Apply for US Immigration?
In Turkey, US immigrant visa applications are only accepted by the US Embassy in Ankara. After the procedures are completed through the relevant authorities in the US, a visa interview is held at the Embassy. The immigrant visa application is evaluated and decided by the Embassy officer who conducts the interview.
How to Get a US Immigrant Visa?
The steps to be followed in US immigration visa applications are listed below.
- Depending on the type of visa you are applying for, your sponsor in the United States must submit a petition to USCIS.
- After USCIS sends the application to the National Visa Center (NVC), the application letter must be awaited. (The Kentucky Consular Center, KCC, conducts the preliminary evaluation of diversity visa applications.)
- After you receive the NVC letter, pay the immigrant visa application fee and any additional fees.
- At this time, the person in the US must submit the sponsorship declaration and financial eligibility documents to the NVC.
- Go to ceac.state.gov and fill out the immigrant visa application form DS-260.
- Prepare all necessary documents according to the type of visa you will request.
- After NVC gives you an appointment date, register for your appointment at ais.usvisa-info.com and determine your passport drop-off location.
- Get a medical report from an Embassy-approved clinic with your NVC file number and appointment information.
- On your appointment date, go to the US Embassy in Ankara, submit your documents and attend the visa interview.
At the end of the visa interview, you will be notified whether you have been approved or not. If your visa is approved, you must pay the $220 USCIS immigration (Green Card) fee online before traveling to the US. This will ensure that your USCIS residence permit card is mailed to you within 90 days of your entry into the US with an immigrant visa.
What Documents Are Required for a US Residence Visa?
The documents required to be submitted when applying for a US immigration visa vary depending on the immigration category applied for.
The following documents are common to all U.S. immigrant visas and must be declared at the visa interview.
- America DS-260 online visa form approval page
- Passport valid for 6 months from entry to the USA
- Past passports and US visas, if any
- 2 biometric photographs of 5×5 mm size
- Approved health report
- Criminal record
- Appointment and passport drop-off location registration
You can view the detailed list of documents you need to prepare depending on the type of immigrant visa by making the relevant selections on the Documents Required for a US Visa page.
How to Make an Embassy Appointment for an Immigrant Visa?
Unlike other types of US visas, the foreign mission appointment for immigration visas is not made by the applicant, but is given by the US National Visa Center (NVC). However, there are procedures that you need to complete online after you receive the appointment notification email from the NVC.
After the appointment date is determined by NVC, your application file is sent to Ankara Embassy and you are notified of the appointment date. The names of all applicants who must attend the appointment are stated in the NVC appointment letter.
Before your appointment, you must register online at usvisa-info.com and select the PTT branch where you will personally collect your passport and visa if your visa is approved, and the location where you will receive your visa. Once the location is selected, you must print the approval letter and bring it with you to the appointment.
When Will US Immigrant Visa Applications Be Finalized?
US immigrant visa applications are finalized within 3-4 business days if all paperwork and administrative procedures are completed during the interview, and your passport and visa are delivered to you from the PTT branch you registered with in advance. The procedures for K1 fiancé visa applications can take between 7 and 10 days.
How Long Is the US Settlement Visa Valid?
The US settlement visa is valid for 6 months, during which time it is necessary to enter the US and then obtain a residence permit card. If travel to the US is not possible during this period, the passport and expired visa package can be delivered to the Embassy and a reprint of the visa can be requested. Renewal of the visa is not guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most frequently asked questions to our center about American immigration applications and visa procedures are answered below.
Where Should I Get a Health Report?
You must obtain the health report from the Ungan Family Medicine health center, which is designated by the Consular Section of the American Embassy to conduct medical examinations of US visa candidates.
Only a US visa medical report obtained from a designated health center is accepted in applications and reports from other doctors cannot be used in visa applications.
Ungan Family Medicine is located at Atatürk Bulvarı No: 237/44-45, 4th Floor, Çankaya/Ankara. The health center’s e-mail address is [email protected] and its phone number is +90 850 532 84 72.
Is it enough to get the criminal record from Turkey?
Obtaining a criminal record from Turkey is not sufficient if a person over the age of 16 has lived in a foreign country for more than 12 months, and a criminal record from the country of residence is also required. For example; a person who completed a master’s degree in Germany between 2018-2020 and then returned to Turkey must also declare a criminal record obtained from the authorities in Germany in their US immigration visa application.
Criminal record documents from other countries must be in English or translated into English by a sworn translator; at the same time, the criminal record for the US visa must meet the criteria determined by the Embassy.
What Questions Are Asked in the Immigrant Visa Interview?
To obtain a US immigrant visa, all applicants, regardless of age, must attend an interview at the Embassy.
During the interview, you may encounter different questions depending on the type of immigrant visa you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a family-based visa, you will be asked detailed questions about your family member in the U.S., such as where he/she works, what his/her salary is, and when you met. If you are applying for an employer-sponsored visa, you will need to answer questions about your place of work and the position.
All questions asked during the visa interview must be answered accurately, clearly and confidently. Preparing all necessary documents before going to the appointment and referencing the documents for relevant questions during the interview will ensure a more comfortable interview process.
Immigration interviews at the embassy can be conducted in Turkish, English and Persian.
When Will My US Residence Permit Be Issued?
When you obtain an American immigration visa, you are granted permanent residence. People who gain permanent residence status in the United States are given a residence card, commonly known as a green card.
A permanent resident card, or green card, is not issued until the person enters the United States and passes immigration clearance. After USCIS verifies that you have paid the immigration fee, they will mail your U.S. residency card to the address you provided during your visa interview or upon entry to the United States within 90 days .