NVC, DS-260

Family abroad

When a sponsored relative lives abroad, the green card process runs through the U.S. Department of State. After approval of the petition, the National Visa Center (NVC) collects forms and documents, and a U.S. embassy or consulate interviews the applicant. We prepare families for each stage, including those in different time zones from us.

Lead attorney

Temitayo M. Tijani

Last reviewed September 2026

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New to this?

Consular processing means applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. The green card arrives by mail after the person enters the United States on that visa.

See the glossary

Who this is for

U.S. citizens and green card holders sponsoring relatives abroad
Families with documents from more than one country or with spelling differences
Applicants preparing for an embassy interview

How we help

Document readiness: We check civil documents against the Department of State's country-specific requirements before submission.
National Visa Center stage: We complete the online immigrant visa application (Form DS-260) and the financial documents.
Interview preparation: We prepare applicants by video, in their time zone.

Forms involved

I-130Petition for Alien Relative
DS-260Immigrant Visa Electronic Application
I-864Affidavit of Support

Government filing fees are listed on our filing fees page.

Timeline

For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, the full process often takes around 12 to 20 months, based on our observations, and depends on the embassy's interview backlog. Family preference categories also wait for the Visa Bulletin.

Document checklist

A starting list. We send a checklist for your case after the consultation.

Birth certificate and passport of the applicant
Marriage and divorce records, as applicable
Police certificates from countries of residence, as required by the Department of State
Sponsor's tax records and Affidavit of Support
Medical examination by an embassy-approved panel physician

“Most of my questions came late at night in Ghana. The team scheduled calls around my hours and prepared my parents for the embassy interview. Both visas were issued at the first appointment.”

Kwame A., Accra, GhanaVisas for parents

These reviews are illustrative examples while client reviews are being collected.

Questions clients ask

What does the National Visa Center do?

The National Visa Center, part of the U.S. Department of State, receives approved petitions, collects fees, forms and civil documents, and schedules the interview once the case is complete.

Who performs the medical exam?

Only a panel physician approved by the U.S. embassy or consulate may perform it.

What if names are spelled differently across documents?

We address discrepancies before submission, often with affidavits or corrected records, because unresolved differences can delay the interview.

When does the green card arrive?

After entry on the immigrant visa and payment of the USCIS immigrant fee, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services mails the card to the U.S. address on file.

Can you attend the embassy interview?

Attorneys generally cannot attend consular interviews. We prepare the applicant in advance and remain available to the family.

What is administrative processing?

It is additional review after the interview, sometimes for security checks or missing documents. Its length varies and the consulate controls it.

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