After your sponsor submits your application or after you have submitted your application on your own behalf, if eligible to do so, it will be forwarded to the appropriate U.S. Consulate or overseas Embassy. From there, the application will continue to be processed, and ultimately, an immigrant visa will be issued if the immigrant is eligible to receive one.

If your application has been accepted and an immigrant visa is issued, you must then present your immigrant visa at a U.S. port-of-entry before the visa’s expiration date. As an intending immigrant, you will become a lawful permanent resident after the immigrant visa, and the necessary paperwork has been reviewed and endorsed by a Customs and Border Protection officer.