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Immigrant Visas

Application Process

Interviews for immigrant visa beneficiaries are conducted only by previously scheduled appointment.  Beneficiaries of immigrant visa petitions receive interview dates and information packets from the National Visa Center or, in some cases, from U.S. Embassy Lima directly. Once an applicant has been interviewed, and once they have provided all of the required forms, the visa can be generally processed within two work days.  Please note that timing for a particular case will vary based on individual circumstances. Many additional factors, such as the need for special clearances, incomplete applications, and fraud investigations, may cause delays in processing. 

Numerical Limitations

Whenever there are more qualified applicants for a category than there are available numbers, the category will be considered oversubscribed, and immigrant visas will be issued in the chronological order in which the petitions were filed until the numerical limit for the category is reached. The filing date of a petition becomes the applicant's priority date. Immigrant visas cannot be issued until an applicant's priority date is reached. In certain heavily oversubscribed categories, there may be a waiting period of several years before a priority date is reached. Check the State Department's Visa Bulletin Information Page for the latest priority dates. Please arrive one half hour prior to your appointment time. Please note that you may have to wait more than an hour for your visa interview. Cell phones are not permitted in the waiting area. Do not bring any electronic devices or metallic items to your interview. Possession of these items will delay your entrance to the Embassy and your scheduled appointment. All applicants for immigrant visas, including children or any age, must be present for their initial interview. Minor children applying alone must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. It is not necessary for the American petitioner to be present at the interview, although they are welcome to attend and may be contacted for further information if required. Applicants should bring all required documents to their initial interview.