What is the 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 US Embassy Lima directly. Once an applicant has been interviewed, and a consular officer has determined that all requirements of the law have been met, the visa can be generally processed within three to five working 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.
Applicants should arrive one half hour prior to their appointment time, and may have to wait more than an hour for the visa interview. Cell phones are not permitted in the waiting area. Applicants should not bring any electronic devices or metallic items to the interview. Possession of these items will delay entrance to the Embassy and your scheduled appointment. All applicants for immigrant visas, including children of 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 U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident petitioner to be present at the interview, although they are welcome to attend the interview, and may be contacted for further information if required. Applicants should bring all required documents to their initial interview.
DHL Courier Service
Passports are returned to applicants via DHL courier service.
Applicants whose cases have been reviewed by a consular officer who has approved the visa will be asked to go to:
- http://peru.usvisa-info.com/
- Select Immigrant Visas
- Create an account
- Choose "Schedule an appointment"
- Select the appropriate visa category
- Select “Immigrant Register for courier” and follow the Instructions to select the office where you are going to pick up your passport.
Your waybill number will not appear until 48 hours after the Embassy has delivered your passport with the approved visa to the DHL office.
If you need to contact the DHL office directly you may call them at 222-3575.
Numerical Limitations
For certain types of immigrant visas, including F-1, F-3, F-4, E, F-21, F-23, F-22, F-24 and F-25, there is a numerical limitation set on the amount of each category that can be issued each year.
Whenever there are more qualified applicants for a category than there are available numbers, the category is considered oversubscribed. Immigrant visas are 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 at least several years before a priority date is reached. Check the State Department's Visa Bulletin Information Page for the latest priority dates.
Updated: November 10, 2011