Embassy of the United States

IMMIGRANT VISAS

Family-based, Immediate Relatives

Petition filed in New Delhi

Visa Processing

If the immigrant visa petition was filed or will be filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) in New Delhi, and the applicant (beneficiary) lives in India or Bhutan, the National Visa Center (NVC) will not process the application. Instead the applicant's case will be processed by the U.S. Immigrant Visa Unit in India that serves the applicant's current residence. An Immigrant Visa Unit is located in New Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai.

When the petitioner and applicant filed the petition, Form I-130 (or Form I-360), with the USCIS in New Delhi and it was accepted they were handed a document pack called "Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants - Packet 3.5". The applicant and petitioner should read these instructions very carefully before they proceed. The pack contains the following: Form DS-230-Part I, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration - Biographic Data; Form DS-2001, Applicant's Declaration of Qualification for Immigrant Visa Interview; Form I-864, Affidavit of Support; and a document checklist.

How to proceed

The applicant should follow the instructions given in "Packet 3.5". Here is a summary:

1. Complete and sign forms DS-230-Part I and DS-2001
2. Assemble the relevant documents as indicated by the document list in "Packet 3.5", including the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support completed by the petitioner and recent photographs,
3. Complete and sign the "Applicant's Statement"
4. Submit the forms and relevant documents to the nearest VFS office and obtain a receipt
5. Pay VFS a courier fee to have the documents returned after the visa interview

Note: The biographic data form, DS-230-Part I, should be completed for each person applying for a visa, regardless of age. The form may be photocopied if insufficient copies are received for each family member.
 
Note: The mandatory immigrant visa fee is for each applicant, regardless of age. The fee is paid by Indian rupee demand draft at the time of the visa interview.

What happens next?

After the Immigrant Visa Unit receives the applicant's forms and relevant documents from VFS, a consular officer will process the applicant's forms and documents. Once this is completed, the applicant will be advised about the mandatory medical examination and the appointment for the visa interview.

The petitioner and Form I-864, Affidavit of Support

The person bringing a relative to live permanently in the U.S., the petitioner, must accept legal responsibility for financially supporting this family member. The petitioner accepts this responsibility and becomes the relative's sponsor by completing and signing a document called an affidavit of support. This legally enforceable responsibility lasts until your relative becomes a U.S. citizen or can be credited with 40 quarters of work (usually 10 years).

The petitioner/sponsor must complete and sign the Form I-864 and give the original and any other related documents to the applicant before the applicant submits all their forms and documents to a VFS office.

For detailed information about the Affidavit of Support visit the Department of State website.

What about Form DS-3032?

The completion of a Form DS-3032, Choice of Address and Agent Form is not required as the application is not being processed by the National Visa Center (NVC).