What is an Immigrant Visa?

An Immigrant Visa is a US visa which is placed in the valid passport of a new Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States by a consular official and it is generally valid for up to six months to allow entry into the US upon approval of the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officer.

Examples of US Immigrant Visas include employment-based visas (e.g., EB-1, EB-2, EB-3); the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV); and family sponsorship visas for certain relatives of US citizens and permanent residents.

After receiving an Immigrant Visa, a new permanent resident of the United States will need to pay an online fee to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) so that he or she can be issued a US Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”) which will be carried as official identification while living in the USA (Green Cards are valid for 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely for 10 years each time).

Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States are authorized to live, study and work in the USA for an unlimited amount of time, and can receive many other benefits, including the option to become an American citizen after living in the US at least five years and meeting other criteria.