Immigrant visa through the National Visa Center and a US consulate
consular processing · Official name: Consular processing (immigrant visa)
How most people abroad get a green card after a family, employer or other immigrant petition is approved. USCIS sends the approved petition to the State Department's National Visa Center (NVC), which collects fees and documents and waits until a visa number is available (your priority date is current in the monthly Visa Bulletin). You then file the online immigrant visa application (Form DS-260), attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate, and, if granted, pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee ($235) and enter the US as a permanent resident. State Department fees: $325 per person for family-based cases, $345 for employment-based, $205 for other categories, plus $120 for Affidavit of Support review.
3 entry rules for United States based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Entry refused after a stay in DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan in the last 21 days
If you're not a US citizen and you've been in DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the last 21 days, you can't enter the United States. This includes green card holders. The US government renewed this on 11 October 2026 for another 30 days.
CDC Order: Suspending the Right to Introduce Certain Persons... (order history) Federal Register 2026-18948 (Sept 16, 2026 continuation) CDC: Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas (updated Sep 11, 2026) Checked October 19, 2026
Entry refused after a stay in DR Congo in the last 21 days
Anyone who has been in DR Congo in the last 21 days, Americans included, can't board a commercial flight to the United States. US citizens are asked to wait outside DR Congo for 21 days before flying.
CDC: Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas CDC Travel Health Notice Level 2: Ebola Bundibugyo in DRC and Uganda (reviewed Aug 28, 2026) Checked October 19, 2026
Health screening after a stay in Uganda, South Sudan in the last 21 days
US citizens who have been in Uganda or South Sudan in the last 21 days must fly into Washington-Dulles, Atlanta or New York JFK for a health check, and get text-message check-ins for 21 days.
CDC: Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas CDC: Enhanced Ebola Airport Screening Begins at Washington-Dulles Checked October 19, 2026
Entry restrictions apply to 40 passports for United States
The government has suspended some or all visas for holders of these passports. Exceptions exist; see the source.
- Afghanistan
- Angola
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Chad
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Haiti
- Iran
- Laos
- Libya
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Palestinian Territories
- Republic of the Congo
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tonga
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Afghanistan
Angola
Antigua & Barbuda
Benin
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Chad
Côte d’Ivoire
Cuba
Dominica
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Gabon
Gambia
Haiti
Iran
Laos
Libya
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Myanmar (Burma)
Niger
Nigeria
Palestinian Territories
Republic of the Congo
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria
Tanzania
Togo
Tonga
Turkmenistan
Venezuela
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweSource: Proclamation 10949 - Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats (Federal Register, 10 Jun 2025)Source: Proclamation 10998 - Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the Security of the United States (Federal Register, 19 Dec 2025)Source: Proclamation 10998 full text (GovInfo)Source: U.S. Department of State - Suspension of Visa Issuance to Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United StatesSource: Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for FY2027 (Federal Register, 2 Oct 2026) - cites Proclamation 10998 as in force
Life in United States
Finance
3
Currency
US Dollar
USD
US Dollar
Cost of living
100
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
10–37%
Income tax (national)
social security 7.65%
Federal rates; most states and some cities add their own income tax. 37% starts above USD 626,350 (single, 2025).
Living
1
Happiness
#22 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
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Who it’s for
People outside the US who are the beneficiary of an approved immigrant petition (for example I-130, I-140, I-526 or I-360) or another immigrant category, and their accompanying family.
Eligibility
Approved immigrant petition or other basis
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou need an approved immigrant petition, usually one of four forms. Some humanitarian categories do not need a petition.
- Family petition: Form I-130
- Employer petition: Form I-140
- Investor petition: Form I-526
- Special immigrant petition: Form I-360
Official wording
Usually a family petition (Form I-130), employer petition (Form I-140), investor petition (Form I-526) or special immigrant petition (Form I-360). Some humanitarian categories do not need a petition.
A visa number available
Sign in to check this route against your profileYour priority date must be earlier than the cut-off date in the State Department's monthly Visa Bulletin before your interview is scheduled.
- Immediate relatives of US citizens are not subject to the annual limits
Official wording
The interview is scheduled once a visa is available, meaning your priority date is earlier than the cut-off date in the State Department's monthly Visa Bulletin. Immediate relatives of US citizens are not subject to the annual limits.
Admissibility
Sign in to check this route against your profileComplete a medical exam and provide civil documents and police certificates as instructed.
- The consular officer decides whether you are eligible for an immigrant visa
- A US sponsor files an Affidavit of Support where required
Official wording
The consular officer decides whether you are eligible for an immigrant visa; applicants complete a medical exam and provide civil documents and police certificates as instructed, and a US sponsor files an Affidavit of Support where required.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Document checklist
- Fees
- Steps to apply
The full requirements are for members
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- 4 documents
- 6 fees
- 7 steps
- Processing times and conditions
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