Overview
Immigration law provides three ways for you, a lawful permanent resident (LPR), to bring your spouse, children and sons/daughters to the United States. They are:
- Immigrant visa (F2A) for family second preference immigrant visa for your spouse and children
- Nonimmigrant (V) visa for your spouse and children to travel to the United States to wait for processing of the immigrant visa. This Internet document provides the application procedures for the nonimmigrant (V) visa.
What Is a V Visa?
The LIFE Act allows spouses and children of lawful permanent residents (LPR) to come to the United States on V nonimmigrant visas. The purpose of this act is to reunite families who have been or could be separated during the process of immigrating to the United States. With V visas, family members can wait in the United States for the immigrant visa process to be completed.
Who Can Get a V Visa?
Spouses (husbands and wives) and unmarried children under the age of 21 of lawful permanent residents may apply for V visas under these conditions:
- Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) petitioner MUST have filed the I-130 immigrant visa petition on or before December 21, 2000;
- Priority date is at least three years old;
- Priority date is not current;
- Applicant has not already had an immigrant visa interview or been scheduled for an interview;
- Petition is not already at an embassy or consulate abroad; and
- Applicant is otherwise eligible as an immigrant
The priority date is the date the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received the petition.
How Do I Know If My Family Members Are Eligible for V Visas?
The National Visa Center (NVC) sends a letter to potential V visa applicants and the petitioner. This letter tells you, the potential V visa applicants, to contact the embassy or consulate where you can apply. You will get information about setting up a V visa appointment. When you contact the embassy or consulate, you must have this information with you:
- your full name as on the petition and on your passport;
- your date and place of birth;
- your nationality; and
- your mailing address and telephone number
