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Immigrant Visas
 

Effective August 15, U.S. Consulate Jerusalem will no longer accept Immigrant Visa petitions. For more information, go to: Filing a Petition

“It is the immigrants who brought to this land the skills of their hands and brains to make of it a beacon of opportunity and hope to all men.”  -- Herbert H. Lehman

Immigrating to the United States is an important decision that involves a complex and lengthy process.  Generally speaking, you qualify to immigrate to the United States if you are:

  • A spouse or immediate relative of an American citizen or legal permanent resident (greencard holder)
  • The fiancé of an American citizen
  • Certain prospective employees of United States companies
  • Selected through the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program

For complete information on who can immigrate to the U.S., please see: Visa Types for Immigrants.

In general, all prospective immigrants, except for Diversity Immigrant candidates, must have a petition filed on their behalf with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) by a U.S. citizen or a U.S. lawful permanent resident relative, or a prospective employer.  Additionally, citizens of qualifying countries may qualify for an immigrant visa through the annual Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.

Diversity Visa applicants:  Protect yourself from Internet Scams! There is no charge to enter the visa lottery.  Learn more about avoiding Diversity Visa scams.

The “petitioner” is the person or company through whom a prospective immigrant qualifies.   The petitioner begins the process by filing a petition.

The “beneficiary” is the prospective immigrant to the United States.  Most petitions must be filed in the United States.  Please see the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website for more information.  However, in limited cases petitions can also be filed at the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem; please review the specific guidelines in “Step 1 – Petition” to see if you qualify to file a petition outside of the United States.

To receive an immigrant visa you will need to complete the following steps: