Prepare Documents
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Cases processed through NVC
After the proper petition has been filed with USCIS, the National Visa Center (NVC) schedules visa interviews for most immigrant visa cases. The NVC also sends immigrant visa case files, containing the petition and all forms and documents submitted by or on behalf of an applicant, to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate where the applicant will be interviewed. Take the following actions after notification from the NVC that your interview has been scheduled:
- Step 1: Carefully review the information sent by the NVC noting the date, time, and location of your immigrant visa interview.
- Step 2: Prepare for the medical examination and vaccination.
- Step 3: Ensure that all required original documents will be available at the time of the interview. Any documents that you submitted to the NVC will be transferred to the interviewing officer.
- Step 4: Obtain the required photographs.
For more information on NVC processing, please click here.
Cases not processed through NVC
Petitioners residing in Germany must file the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, by mail with the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility. Please visit USCIS website for details.
U.S. Consulate Frankfurt may accept filing of the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative under two circumstances. First, petitions filed by qualified U.S. military service members for any immediate relative case, when the active duty military service member is stationed at a military base in Germany. This exception does not apply to service members assigned to non-military bases, such as embassies or civilian institutions. Second, U.S. Consulate Frankfurt may accept filing of the Form I-130 for petitioners who believe they have exceptional situations that would merit an exception from filing by mail to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox. USCIS published guidance on circumstances that may qualify as exceptional.
If you believe that your situation merits an exception, please email FrnUSCISinquiries@state.gov to request an exception and explain your circumstances in detail. If your request to file an I-130 petition with U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt is not authorized by USCIS, then you must file the petition with the USCIS Dallas Lockbox.
If the petition is filed with U.S. Consulate Frankfurt, the Visa Unit will send you the Instruction Package via email as soon as your petition is approved. After you have received the Instruction Package, you must submit a request to schedule your appointment through the U.S. Visa Information Service or by calling the call center representative. You also must submit the Online Immigrant Visa Application (DS-260) online and all forms and documents listed in the Instruction Package visa interview.
K-1 Cases
All forms I-129F filed with the USCIS in the United States for K-1 visas are forwarded to NVC upon approval. After review, NVC forward the form I-129F to the Visa Unit in Frankfurt. After receiving an approved I-129F petition from USCIS, the Visa Unit will send you a notification letter (packet 3). Once you receive this letter you may start your visa application and submit all forms and documents listed in the Immigrant/ Fiancee K-Visa Application Checklist to the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt. Do not submit any documents to the National Visa Center. After the Immigrant Visa Unit has received and reviewed the documents, your request for an appointment will be released. The request will automatically be triggered as soon as you pay the visa application fee. After the request has been approved by the Visa Unit, you will be notified. Do not attempt to schedule an appointment before you are instructed to do so. An appointment request without authorization by the Consulate will be denied.