Immigrant Visa Information
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Overview
In general, a person who wishes to immigrate to the United States must have a petition approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before applying for an immigrant visa. The petition is filed either by a qualified relative or a potential employer at a USCIS office in the United States. Specific information about filing immigrant petitions is available on the USCIS website. An individual with an approved petition and a priority date that is current for processing (when applicable) is eligible to apply for an immigrant visa or K nonimmigrant visa.
Petitions
Effective August 15, 2011, petitioners residing in Pakistan, where USCIS does not have a public counter presence, must file their Forms I-130 by mail with the USCIS Chicago lockbox. Forms I-130 that were properly filed at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate overseas where USCIS does not have a presence before August 15, 2011, will not be affected by this change.
USCIS Chicago Lockbox addresses for regular mail deliveries:
USCIS P.O. Box 804625
Chicago, IL 60680-4107
USCIS Chicago Lockbox address for express mail and courier deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: I-130
131 South Dearborn-3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517
For additional information about how to file a Form I-130 with the USCIS Chicago lockbox, visit the USCIS website at http://uscis.gov or contact USCIS by telephone in the United States at 1-800-375-5283
USCIS Immigrant Fee
Effective December 23, 2016, all individuals issued immigrant visas overseas must pay a USCIS Immigrant Fee before traveling to the United States. This fee is paid after the immigrant visa is issued. Applicants who are successfully issued visas will receive an information sheet in their visa packet explaining the process for paying the fee. Only prospective adoptive parents whose child(ren) is/are entering the United States under either the Orphan or Hague Process, Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants who were employed by the U.S. government, returning residents, and those issued K visas are exempt from the new fee. The below USCIS website has more details on the new fee, including contact information for USCIS, if there are further questions: https://uscis.gov/forms/uscis-immigrant-fee.
Medical Requirements
All applicants must undergo a medical exam by an Embassy-approved Panel Physician. Information about the medical exam can be found here. You will receive instructions about how to schedule an appointment for your medical exam from NVC or the Embassy. Do not try to make an appointment before receiving these instructions
U.S. Embassy Appointment
All immigrant and fiancée visa applications in Pakistan are handled by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. Once you have been scheduled for an appointment, either by the National Visa Center, Kentucky Consular Center or the Embassy’s Immigrant Visa Unit, please make sure to appear that Consular Section in Islamabad at the date and time of your scheduled interview. Please read about security restrictions at the U.S. Embassy that describes what you can and cannot bring with you to your interview. You should bring your appointment letter and the documents required for your visa class. Please note that all members of the family who are applying for visas must appear for the interview regardless of age.