Immigrant Visa Information

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Overview

In general, a person who wishes to immigrate to the United States must have a petition approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before applying for an immigrant visa.  The petition is filed either by a qualified relative or a potential employer at a USCIS office in the United States or online.  Specific information about filing immigrant petitions is available on the USCIS website. An individual with an approved petition and a priority date that is current for processing (when applicable) is eligible to apply for an immigrant visa or K nonimmigrant visa.

Petitions

Petitioners residing in Côte d’Ivoire, where USCIS does not have a public counter presence, must file their Forms I-130 directly with USCIS either by mail at the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility or file online. U.S. Embassies and Consulates that do not have a USCIS presence will only be able to accept, and process Forms I-130 in exceptional circumstances.

For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: I-130
P.O. Box 650264
Dallas, TX 75265

For FedEx, UPS and DHL deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: I-130
2501 S. State Hwy, 121 Business, Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067

For additional information about how to file a Form I-130, visit the USCIS website at http://uscis.gov or contact USCIS by telephone in the U.S. at 1-800-375-5283. If you are outside the United States, you can call +1-212-620-3418.

USCIS Immigrant Fee

All individuals issued immigrant visas overseas must pay a USCIS Immigrant Fee before traveling to the United States, with some exemptions.  Please visit USCIS’s website for details about the fee, including how to pay it, at USCIS Immigrant Fee.

Exceptional Filing

Petitioners in Côte d’Ivoire who believe their situation merits an exception may request the Consular Section to accept the petition filing. Each request will be evaluated individually.

A petitioner seeking to file a Form I-130 should contact the Consular Section to request consideration for exception and explain the circumstances in detail. The criteria guiding the decision to accept direct filing are described on USCIS’ website here. Please contact the Consular Section at ABJVisa@state.gov for further information.

Medical Requirements

All applicants must undergo a medical exam by an Embassy-approved Panel Physician. Information about the medical exam can be found here. You will receive instructions about how to schedule an appointment for your medical exam from NVC or the Embassy. Do not try to make an appointment before receiving these instructions.

Embassy Appointment

Once you receive your interview date, you must appear at the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan on the date of your appointment. You should arrive at the Embassy fifteen minutes before your appointment. Please read about security restrictions at the Embassy that describe what you can and cannot bring with you to your interview. You should bring your appointment letter and the appropriate documents required for your visa class.

Visa Delivery

Approved visas are available for pick-up at the Embassy.  Applicants will be contacted when the visas are ready.