What is the process for obtaining an immigrant visa if the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) approves the petition?
It is then forwarded to the National Visa Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The National Visa Center then informs the beneficiary that an approved petition has been received. As soon as a visa number is available on a preference petition or as soon as INS approves an immediate relative petition, the National Visa Center sends notice that the beneficiary can begin the visa application process. Table of Contents • What foreign service post handles approved immigrant visa petitions for persons who last resided in a country where there is no American consular representation? Persons from countries that do not have an American embassy or consulate are considered “homeless” because they cannot return to their home country to be interviewed for the immigrant visa. When the National Visa Center receives and immigrant visa approved petition on a “homeless” case, it assigns the case to an embassy or consulate that has been determined is capable of handling the additional workload. The petitio
