Shihab Burke LLC Immigration Lawyers helps families with consular processing, the process a relative abroad uses to get an immigrant visa and a green card. Our Columbus consular processing lawyers guide clients through the National Visa Center, the embassy interview, and 221(g) delays. From our offices in Columbus and Dublin, Ohio, we serve families in the Columbus area, throughout Ohio, and across the United States, including relatives who live abroad.
Highlights
- Consular processing is how a relative who lives outside the United States gets an immigrant visa.
- The case moves from USCIS to the National Visa Center (NVC), which collects fees and documents and schedules the interview.
- The interview is generally held at a U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where the relative lives.
- The relative becomes a permanent resident on entering the United States with the immigrant visa.
- A 221(g) refusal puts the visa on hold; it is not always the end of the case.
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What Is Family Consular Processing?
Family consular processing is the way a relative who lives outside the United States applies for an immigrant visa. An immigrant visa is a visa for permanent residence. The relative applies through the U.S. Department of State and attends an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Consular processing starts after U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approves the family petition, usually Form I-130. When the relative enters the United States with the immigrant visa, the relative becomes a permanent resident. The green card then arrives by mail at the relative’s U.S. address.
Our Approach
Before documents go to the National Visa Center, we review all of them, so your relative can prepare for the interview with confidence.
“They always made sure we understood each step, answered all of our questions with patience, and treated us with kindness and respect.”
— Google review
Talk with a Columbus consular processing lawyer: 866-665-0001.
What Are the Steps in Family Consular Processing?
- USCIS approves the petition and sends it to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC is the State Department office that prepares cases for the embassy interview.
- The NVC opens the case and sends a case number. In the family preference categories, the case moves forward only when the relative’s priority date (place in line) is current in the Visa Bulletin. Learn what to do when the priority date becomes current on our adjustment of status page.
- The relative pays the immigrant visa fee, and the sponsor pays the Affidavit of Support fee.
- The relative completes Form DS-260, the online immigrant visa application.
- The sponsor uploads the Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) and financial documents. The relative uploads civil documents, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, and police certificates.
- The NVC reviews the case. When everything is complete, the NVC marks the case “documentarily qualified.”
- The NVC schedules the interview and forwards the case to the U.S. embassy or consulate.
- The relative has a medical exam with a doctor approved by the embassy, then attends the visa interview.
- The consular officer decides the case. The officer may issue the immigrant visa or refuse it. A 221(g) refusal puts the visa on hold until more documents or checks are completed.
- If the visa is issued, the relative pays the USCIS Immigrant Fee and enters the United States while the visa is valid.
Where Does the Immigrant Visa Interview Take Place?
The immigrant visa interview is generally held at a U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where the relative lives. A relative may also be able to interview in the relative’s country of nationality. Relatives from countries without regular visa services are assigned to a designated embassy.
Requests to move a case to a different embassy go through the National Visa Center. Exceptions are limited.
What Documents Are Needed for Consular Processing?
The documents needed for consular processing depend on the relative’s country and the visa category. The State Department lists the required documents for each country. Common documents include:
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond the planned entry date
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate, and proof that any earlier marriage has ended
- Police certificates from countries where the relative lived for certain periods
- Court and prison records for any arrest or conviction
- Military records, if any
- Two passport-style photos
- The sponsor’s Affidavit of Support, recent tax returns, and proof of income
Documents that are not in English, and not in the official language of the country where the relative is applying, need certified English translations. The relative should follow the embassy’s instructions.
How Long Does Consular Processing Take?
Consular processing time depends on the National Visa Center, the embassy’s interview schedule, and, in the preference categories, the Visa Bulletin. After the National Visa Center finds the case complete, the wait for an interview varies widely from one embassy to another. We give each client a current estimate at the consultation.
What Is a 221(g) Refusal?
A 221(g) refusal is a legal refusal of the visa, but it is often not the end of the case. The embassy can issue the visa later. The officer may need more documents, or the case may need administrative processing, which means extra background checks. The officer may also send the petition back to USCIS with a recommendation to revoke it. A relative who receives a 221(g) refusal should talk to an attorney to decide what action is needed.
The relative should send any requested documents quickly and exactly as instructed. Learn more on our 221(g) spouse visa refusal page.
What Happens If the Embassy Refuses the Visa for Another Reason?
There is generally no formal appeal of an immigrant visa refusal. A refusal often means the officer found the relative inadmissible. Inadmissible means a legal reason, such as past unlawful time in the United States, fraud, or certain crimes, prevents the relative from receiving a visa.
Options may include a waiver, which is the government’s forgiveness of certain grounds, more evidence, or a new application. Learn more on our I-601A and I-601 waivers page.
What Are the Government Fees for Family Consular Processing?
We update this information regularly, but government filing fees have changed frequently in recent years. The amounts below are provided for general information only and should not be relied on for a filing. For every case we file, our office calculates the applicable government fees and informs the client of the exact amounts at the time of filing.
The main government fees for family consular processing are:
| Form or Service | Government Fee |
|---|---|
| Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative | $675 by mail; $625 online |
| Immigrant visa application fee | $325 per person |
| Affidavit of Support review by the National Visa Center | $120 |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee (paid after the visa is issued) | $235 |
| Medical exam | Set by the doctor approved by the embassy |
Current amounts are listed on the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) and on the Department of State’s Fees for Visa Services page.
How Our Columbus Consular Processing Lawyers Help
Our attorneys handle the consular case from the approved petition to the immigrant visa. We:
- Prepare the National Visa Center fees, forms, and documents
- Prepare the Affidavit of Support and find solutions when income is too low
- Review civil documents and police records before they are uploaded
- Prepare the relative for the interview and handle communication with the embassy
- Respond to 221(g) requests and follow up on long administrative processing, at your request
- Review options, including waivers, if the visa is refused
Every case we file is reviewed by our team for eligibility, completeness, and possible issues. Before anything goes to the National Visa Center, we review every form and document. This includes, for example, civil documents, translations, police certificates, the Affidavit of Support, and any past visa refusals or time in the United States that could raise a problem at the interview. Because a missing document can delay an interview for months, a complete review matters. When a case has weaknesses, we explain them and discuss how to gather more evidence and what other options are available, so your family can be together as soon as the process allows.
Every family case is different. At the consultation, we review your situation, explain what our representation will cover, and quote a fee. Most cases are handled for a flat fee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Consular Processing
How long does family consular processing take?
Family consular processing time depends on the National Visa Center, the embassy’s interview schedule, and, in the preference categories, the Visa Bulletin. The wait for an interview varies widely from one embassy to another. We give each client a current estimate at the consultation.
Can the U.S. sponsor attend the immigrant visa interview?
Usually, only the relative attends the immigrant visa interview. Some embassies allow the U.S. sponsor to attend. The relative should follow the embassy’s instructions.
Is a 221(g) refusal a final visa denial?
A 221(g) refusal is a refusal, but often not a final one. The immigrant visa cannot be issued until the officer receives more documents or finishes more checks, and many visas are issued after that.
Can my relative work right after arriving with an immigrant visa?
Yes. A relative admitted with an immigrant visa becomes a permanent resident on the day of entry and may work in the United States.
What if the sponsor’s income is too low for consular processing?
If the sponsor’s income is too low, a joint sponsor may sign a separate Affidavit of Support. A joint sponsor is another person who meets the income requirement.
Recent Changes Affecting Consular Processing
These recent changes affect consular processing. We update this section whenever possible.
- Interviews in the country of residence. Immigrant visa applicants are now generally interviewed in the country where they live.
- Travel restrictions. Since January 1, 2026, a presidential proclamation has limited visas for people from 39 countries. The proclamation does not have a general exception for spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens.
- End of the 75-country immigrant visa pause. A court order ended the State Department’s pause on immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries on August 21, 2026.
- Worldwide interview pause. In late August 2026, the State Department paused most immigrant visa interviews worldwide for officer training on the public charge rules. Some embassies have restarted interviews, but many have not. Families should check with the embassy before making plans.
Related Videos and Articles
- Consular Processing vs. Adjustment of Status: Which Is Right for You? (video)
- Will the U.S. Government Accept my Foreign Birth Certificate? (article)
Talk With a Columbus Consular Processing Lawyer
Our Columbus office is at 4449 Easton Way #200, Columbus, OH 43219. Our Dublin, Ohio office is at 565 Metro Pl S #100, Dublin, OH 43017. Both offices are open by appointment only, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact our Columbus or Dublin, Ohio office, or call 866-665-0001, to schedule a consultation in person, by phone, or by video conference.
