American Immigration Lawyers
Khan Law, PLLC
555 Republic Drive, Floor 2, Suite 214
Plano, TX 75074
Office: (469) 200-6508
WhatsApp: (469) 200-6508
Email: info@khanlegalgroup.com
U.S. immigration law, serving clients
in all 50 states and worldwide.
Quick Links
Free Case Evaluation
Tell us your story. We’ll tell you which of these paths actually fits your life, before you spend a dollar.
The Visa Guide · Family
Consular
Processing
The embassy route.
For immigrants finishing abroad: the case completes at a U.S. embassy or consulate through the National Visa Center, and ends with an immigrant visa and a green card on entry. Here’s the whole journey, in plain English.
Who Qualifies
Approved. Current. Ready.
Four things make or break a consular case, long before the interview.
An approved petition
A family I-130, employment I-140, or other qualifying immigrant petition basis.
A current priority date
Current under the monthly Visa Bulletin. Immediate relatives are always current.
Admissibility, or a waiver
Admissible, or approved for a waiver of unlawful presence and similar bars.
A financial sponsor
A qualifying sponsor on Form I-864 for family cases.
The Process
Five steps. One arrival.
The handoff
USCIS approves the petition and sends the case to the National Visa Center.
The paperwork
Pay NVC fees, then submit Form DS-260, the immigrant visa application, with the I-864 and civil documents through CEAC.
Documentarily complete
NVC marks the case documentarily complete and schedules the embassy interview.
The medical exam
Complete the panel physician medical exam in the home country.
The interview
Attend the consular interview. Upon issuance, enter the U.S. and receive the green card after paying the USCIS immigrant fee.
Forms & Fees
Know the paperwork.
The immigrant visa application, submitted through CEAC
Petition for Alien Relative: the family petition basis
Immigrant petition for the employment-based basis
Affidavit of Support: the sponsor’s financial commitment in family cases
Inadmissibility bars? Clear them first.
Unlawful presence and similar bars can require an approved waiver before the visa is issued. Plan for it early, not at the interview.
Live processing times & fees
Government numbers change monthly. These official tools are always current:
Your family.
Our fight.
Every case is different. Tell us your story. The evaluation is free, and we’ll tell you exactly which path fits.
Attorney Advertising: general information, not legal advice. We fix document problems before the consulate finds them: request a free case evaluation or call (469) 200-6508. Facing an unlawful presence bar? Read the I-601/I-601A waiver guide. ← Back to all visa guides
The Rules
What you can and cannot do.
- Keep living and working in your home country for the whole process; no U.S. status is ever required
- Immigrate together in preference cases: the spouse and unmarried children under 21 come as derivatives, or follow to join later
- Enter the United States as a permanent resident; the endorsed visa in your passport proves the status for a year while the card is produced
- Start work immediately after that first entry, with no separate permit
- Wait out the process inside the United States on a visitor visa; pretending to visit while intending to stay can sink the case
- Let the file go quiet; the National Visa Center can terminate a case after a year without contact
- Delay the move indefinitely; visa validity is tied to the medical exam and is typically about six months
- Send a representative; every applicant, including children, appears at the interview in person
Costs
What it costs in 2026.
Consular cases split the bill among three payees: the National Visa Center collects the application and sponsorship review fees, the panel physician is paid locally for the medical exam, and USCIS collects one last fee that pays for the physical card. Immigrant visas are not charged the $250 visa integrity fee; that charge belongs to nonimmigrant categories such as tourist and student visas.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Immigrant visa application (Form DS-260) | $325 per applicant | Paid to the National Visa Center before the online forms unlock |
| Affidavit of support review | $120 per case | One fee covers the sponsorship package in family cases |
| USCIS immigrant fee | $235 per person | Paid online after the visa is issued; skipping it delays the green card itself |
| Medical exam (panel physician) | Set locally | Each country and clinic prices its own exam; paid directly to the physician |
| Family petition (Form I-130) | $675 paper / $625 online | Paid to USCIS at the petition stage, before the case reaches NVC |
Fee amounts reflect published government figures as of August 2026 and change over time; the live links above are always current. Fees apply per person, including children.
FAQ
Questions we hear every week.
Why is my case sitting at NVC?
Usually a document problem: a missing civil record, an uncertified translation, a sponsor whose numbers do not add up. Each rejected upload adds a review cycle, and cycles are measured in weeks. Getting the file accepted on the first pass is where most of the time is saved.
We are documentarily complete. How long until the interview?
That depends on the embassy, not on NVC. Each post releases interview slots based on local capacity, and the queue varies dramatically by country. The scheduling status pages linked above show what each post is currently working through.
What is a 221(g) refusal?
Usually not a true denial. Most 221(g) notices mean administrative processing or a missing document, and the case reopens once the item arrives or the check clears. Respond quickly and keep proof; a 221(g) left unanswered for a year can end the case.
Can my spouse and children follow me later?
In preference categories, yes: derivatives can follow to join after the principal immigrates, with no new petition and no new place in line. Immediate relative cases work differently, and each person needs a petition of their own. Age limits matter here, so plan before the principal travels.
What if a civil document does not exist in my country?
The State Department publishes a reciprocity schedule listing exactly which records each country can issue. Where a record is genuinely unavailable, the rules allow secondary evidence, such as affidavits from relatives with direct knowledge. The trick is proving unavailability the way the consulate expects.
What happens at the port of entry?
The officer admits you as a permanent resident, and the visa in your passport serves as proof of status for one year. Pay the USCIS immigrant fee before you travel if you can; the physical card is not produced until it is paid.