FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions Related to Immigrant and Diversity Visas
Table of Contents
1. I have sent multiple inquiries, but have not gotten a response. Why?
2. Can I come to the Embassy to inquire about my case?
3. Where can I get more information about immigrant visas and the NVC?
4. When will I get an appointment?
5. If I cancel my appointment when will I be rescheduled?
6. Where will the interview take place?
7. What photos do I need to bring?
8. What documents do I need to bring?
9. What items are not allowed at my interview?
10. How do I add a family member to my case?
11. Does the petitioner need to come to the interview?
12. Who must attend the interview? Do I need to bring all my children?
13. Can I pick up the visa the same day?
14. Do I owe any money for the visas?
15. How do I book my medical exam?
16. How do I inquire about my DNA test?
17. How do I check the status of my waiver?
18. How do I check my priority date?
Q1: I have sent multiple inquiries to consularmonrovia@state.gov, but have not gotten a response. Why?
A: Our Immigrant Visa Unit receives hundreds of inquiries every month. Thus, in order to serve applicants faster, we cannot respond to inquiries requesting confirmation of receipt of documents or faxes. In addition, we hope that this list of FAQs will provide you the information you are seeking. We work hard to answer every email as quickly as possible.
Q2: Where can I get more information about immigrant visas, the Diversity Visa lottery, and the National Visa Center (NVC)?
A: You can learn more about immigrant visas and the National Visa Center, at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1309.html.
For information about the Diversity Visa lottery and the Kentucky Consular Center, please visit: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1321.html.
For information about the interview process, please visit our website at: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3731.html.
A glossary of technical definitions of terms for visas can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/glossary/glossary_1363.html.
Another useful website, for the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS), which is responsible for adjudicating waivers, processing green cards and granting U.S. citizenship, can be found at: www.uscis.gov.
Q3: When will I get an appointment?
A: If NVC sent you a letter stating that your file is complete and has been sent to Monrovia for scheduling, please wait for your appointment letter to be sent to you. This can take several months, depending on the type of immigrant visa filed. You can expect to receive this appointment letter several weeks before your appointment. If the original documents had been sent to NVC, please remember to bring photocopies of all documents, including birth, marriage, divorce certificates, etc.
If your inquiry concerns an immigrant visa case in which the I-130 petition was filed in the United States and it has not been scheduled for an appointment, please send your inquiry directly to the National Visa Center. To contact NVC, please email: NVCInquiry@state.gov. If you have been informed by USCIS that your petition has been approved and forwarded to the Department of State, please contact NVC directly.
In order to file an I-130 petition at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, you must be an American citizen petitioner filing for an immediate relative (spouse, child, or parent). You must demonstrate that you have resided in the consular district continuously for at least six months before filing the petition. Individuals who are in the country on temporary status, such as students or tourists, would not be considered to meet the residency standard. We accept petitions Monday through Thursday from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Please remember to bring ORIGINAL documents of birth, marriage, divorce certificates, etc. If the petition is approved, the petitioner must return to the United States and provide the beneficiary with evidence that the petitioner has been domiciled in the United States for at least six months by the time of the interview. This evidence can include bank accounts, fund transfers to the United States, investments in the United States, employment in the United States, registration of children in U.S. schools, application for a social security number, voting card for voting in local, state, or federal elections, leases mortgages, utility bills, telephone bills, or other mail established in the petitioner’s name. The beneficiary can send an inquiry to consularmonrovia@state.gov to schedule an interview.
Q4: If I cancel, miss, or am late for my appointment, when will I be rescheduled?
A: Please send us an e-mail with your name, case number, and contact address. We will send a new appointment letter to the email address and/or mail address provided. You will receive the next available appointment date. We are currently scheduling appointments three to four months from today.
Q5: Where will the interview take place?
A: All visa interviews for immigrant visas take place at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia. We are located at:
Gate #1
111 United Nations Drive
Mamba Point
Monrovia, Liberia
Q6: What photos do I need to bring?
A: Two color passport photos are required for the interview. The required size is typical for passports: 1½ inches by 1½ inches (5 cm x 5 cm). It is always a good idea to bring an extra photo. For more detailed information on photo requirements, please visit: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3746.html.
If you are applying for a family-based immigrant visa, you may also wish to bring photographs showing you with the petitioner as further proof of the relationship.
Q7: What documents do I need to bring?
A: The required documents are listed on the checklist provided by NVC or on our prior communications with you. Remember, however, that each case is different. Please remember to bring ORIGINAL records of birth, marriage, divorce, police certificates, etc., including birth certificates of the petitioner if the petitioner is a son, daughter or sibling of the applicant. Please bring photocopies for us as well.
You must bring an international passport. If you are qualified for the visa, we will keep it until the visa is printed and placed in the passport. Please make sure that the passport is valid for at least six months, and that there are no written observations. If there is a written observation, you will be asked to get another passport. For more details about original documents, please visit:
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3741.html.
Q8: What items are not allowed at my interview?
A: For security reasons, you may not take the following items into the building: weapons of any kind or size, sharp metal or glass objects, razor blades, liquids, bottles, powdery substances, umbrellas and electronic or battery-operated equipment (including cell phones, radios, tape recorders, cameras, personal digital assistants, computers), food, drinks, or pre-mixed baby formula. There are no lockers available in which to store these items, so please plan accordingly.
Q9: How do I add a family member to my case?
A: If you are inquiring about a new family member whom you wish to add to an approved petition stored at NVC, please contact NVC in writing, providing the petitioner's and beneficiary's names and dates of birth, case number, receipt number, and a copy of the birth certificate. To contact NVC by phone, you must call between 7:30 a.m. and midnight, Monday to Friday, Eastern Time (EST). It may be easier to reach NVC during the morning. Follow the prompts to speak with an operator. NVC's telephone number is: 1-603-334-0700. You may also inquire via fax: 1-603-334-0791, or e-mail at NVCInquiry@state.gov.
For Diversity Visa entries, if you are inquiring about adding a family member (that was NOT a family member at the time of your Diversity Visa entry) to your DV case, it can be done on the day of your interview at the U.S. Embassy. All normal DV fees apply for this family member.
Q10: Does the petitioner need to come to the interview?
A: Because of space restrictions, petitioners are not permitted into the interview room. However, a family member may come to aid elderly applicants or young children.
Q11: Who must attend the interview? Do I need to bring all my children?
A: All applicants must be in attendance for their interview. Waiting times at the Embassy can sometimes be long.
Q12: Can I pick up the visa the same day?
A: Because of the administrative processing associated with visa issuance, it is not possible to issue visas on the same day of the interview. Instead, most visas will be available for pick up at 3:00 p.m., one week after the interview. DO NOT make any travel plans until you physically have picked up the passport with the visa inserted in it.
Q13: Do I owe any money for the visas?
A: If you have been receiving documentation from the National Visa Center, then most likely you have already paid the visa fee. If not, the current IV fee is U.S. $400 per applicant regardless of age.
All Diversity Visa lottery applicants must pay the $775 fee per applicant to the U.S. Embassy Monrovia on the day of the interview.
All K-1 and K-3 visas must pay the $131 nonimmigrant (visitor) visa application fee. The K-1 and K-3 fee is paid before your interview at the U.S. Embassy Monrovia on the day of your interview.
Q14: How do I book my medical exam?
A: We only accept medical examinations from the following clinics: Dr. Richard A.Sacra, Paynesville, Liberia; Dr. Lilly Sanvee, St. Joseph's Catholic Hospital, Sinkor, Monrovia; and Dr. Robert Kpoto, MEDLINK INTERNATIONAL CORP, Randall Street, Monrovia. Please contact one of these clinics to schedule your medical examination. Medical packets are available at the clinic but medical results are delivered directly to the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia.
Q15: How do I inquire about my DNA test?
A: You can send an email to us at consularmonrovia@state.gov with your name, case number, and specific question and someone will respond to your inquiry at our earliest convenience.
Q16: How do I check the status of my waiver?
A: The U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) adjudicates all waivers. You may contact the local DHS/USCIS office in Accra, Ghana, to inquire about your case’s status. The office can be reached at:
Q17: How do I check my priority date?
A: The Department of State publishes the list of current priority dates every month (known as the Visa Bulletin). You can find the current one, as well as archived bulletins at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions Related to Immigrant and Diversity Visas
Table of Contents
1. I have sent multiple inquiries, but have not gotten a response. Why?
2. Can I come to the Embassy to inquire about my case?
3. Where can I get more information about immigrant visas and the NVC?
4. When will I get an appointment?
5. If I cancel my appointment when will I be rescheduled?
6. Where will the interview take place?
7. What photos do I need to bring?
8. What documents do I need to bring?
9. What items are not allowed at my interview?
10. How do I add a family member to my case?
11. Does the petitioner need to come to the interview?
12. Who must attend the interview? Do I need to bring all my children?
13. Can I pick up the visa the same day?
14. Do I owe any money for the visas?
15. How do I book my medical exam?
16. How do I inquire about my DNA test?
17. How do I check the status of my waiver?
18. How do I check my priority date?
Q1: I have sent multiple inquiries to consularmonrovia@state.gov, but have not gotten a response. Why?
A: Our Immigrant Visa Unit receives hundreds of inquiries every month. Thus, in order to serve applicants faster, we cannot respond to inquiries requesting confirmation of receipt of documents or faxes. In addition, we hope that this list of FAQs will provide you the information you are seeking. We work hard to answer every email as quickly as possible.
Q2: Where can I get more information about immigrant visas, the Diversity Visa lottery, and the National Visa Center (NVC)?
A: You can learn more about immigrant visas and the National Visa Center, at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1309.html.
For information about the Diversity Visa lottery and the Kentucky Consular Center, please visit: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1321.html.
For information about the interview process, please visit our website at: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3731.html.
A glossary of technical definitions of terms for visas can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/glossary/glossary_1363.html.
Another useful website, for the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS), which is responsible for adjudicating waivers, processing green cards and granting U.S. citizenship, can be found at: www.uscis.gov.
Q3: When will I get an appointment?
A: If NVC sent you a letter stating that your file is complete and has been sent to Monrovia for scheduling, please wait for your appointment letter to be sent to you. This can take several months, depending on the type of immigrant visa filed. You can expect to receive this appointment letter several weeks before your appointment. If the original documents had been sent to NVC, please remember to bring photocopies of all documents, including birth, marriage, divorce certificates, etc.
If your inquiry concerns an immigrant visa case in which the I-130 petition was filed in the United States and it has not been scheduled for an appointment, please send your inquiry directly to the National Visa Center. To contact NVC, please email: NVCInquiry@state.gov. If you have been informed by USCIS that your petition has been approved and forwarded to the Department of State, please contact NVC directly.
In order to file an I-130 petition at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, you must be an American citizen petitioner filing for an immediate relative (spouse, child, or parent). You must demonstrate that you have resided in the consular district continuously for at least six months before filing the petition. Individuals who are in the country on temporary status, such as students or tourists, would not be considered to meet the residency standard. We accept petitions Monday through Thursday from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Please remember to bring ORIGINAL documents of birth, marriage, divorce certificates, etc. If the petition is approved, the petitioner must return to the United States and provide the beneficiary with evidence that the petitioner has been domiciled in the United States for at least six months by the time of the interview. This evidence can include bank accounts, fund transfers to the United States, investments in the United States, employment in the United States, registration of children in U.S. schools, application for a social security number, voting card for voting in local, state, or federal elections, leases mortgages, utility bills, telephone bills, or other mail established in the petitioner’s name. The beneficiary can send an inquiry to consularmonrovia@state.gov to schedule an interview.
Q4: If I cancel, miss, or am late for my appointment, when will I be rescheduled?
A: Please send us an e-mail with your name, case number, and contact address. We will send a new appointment letter to the email address and/or mail address provided. You will receive the next available appointment date. We are currently scheduling appointments three to four months from today.
Q5: Where will the interview take place?
A: All visa interviews for immigrant visas take place at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia. We are located at:
Gate #1
111 United Nations Drive
Mamba Point
Monrovia, Liberia
Q6: What photos do I need to bring?
A: Two color passport photos are required for the interview. The required size is typical for passports: 1½ inches by 1½ inches (5 cm x 5 cm). It is always a good idea to bring an extra photo. For more detailed information on photo requirements, please visit: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3746.html.
If you are applying for a family-based immigrant visa, you may also wish to bring photographs showing you with the petitioner as further proof of the relationship.
Q7: What documents do I need to bring?
A: The required documents are listed on the checklist provided by NVC or on our prior communications with you. Remember, however, that each case is different. Please remember to bring ORIGINAL records of birth, marriage, divorce, police certificates, etc., including birth certificates of the petitioner if the petitioner is a son, daughter or sibling of the applicant. Please bring photocopies for us as well.
You must bring an international passport. If you are qualified for the visa, we will keep it until the visa is printed and placed in the passport. Please make sure that the passport is valid for at least six months, and that there are no written observations. If there is a written observation, you will be asked to get another passport. For more details about original documents, please visit:
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3741.html.
Q8: What items are not allowed at my interview?
A: For security reasons, you may not take the following items into the building: weapons of any kind or size, sharp metal or glass objects, razor blades, liquids, bottles, powdery substances, umbrellas and electronic or battery-operated equipment (including cell phones, radios, tape recorders, cameras, personal digital assistants, computers), food, drinks, or pre-mixed baby formula. There are no lockers available in which to store these items, so please plan accordingly.
Q9: How do I add a family member to my case?
A: If you are inquiring about a new family member whom you wish to add to an approved petition stored at NVC, please contact NVC in writing, providing the petitioner's and beneficiary's names and dates of birth, case number, receipt number, and a copy of the birth certificate. To contact NVC by phone, you must call between 7:30 a.m. and midnight, Monday to Friday, Eastern Time (EST). It may be easier to reach NVC during the morning. Follow the prompts to speak with an operator. NVC's telephone number is: 1-603-334-0700. You may also inquire via fax: 1-603-334-0791, or e-mail at NVCInquiry@state.gov.
For Diversity Visa entries, if you are inquiring about adding a family member (that was NOT a family member at the time of your Diversity Visa entry) to your DV case, it can be done on the day of your interview at the U.S. Embassy. All normal DV fees apply for this family member.
Q10: Does the petitioner need to come to the interview?
A: Because of space restrictions, petitioners are not permitted into the interview room. However, a family member may come to aid elderly applicants or young children.
Q11: Who must attend the interview? Do I need to bring all my children?
A: All applicants must be in attendance for their interview. Waiting times at the Embassy can sometimes be long.
Q12: Can I pick up the visa the same day?
A: Because of the administrative processing associated with visa issuance, it is not possible to issue visas on the same day of the interview. Instead, most visas will be available for pick up at 3:00 p.m., one week after the interview. DO NOT make any travel plans until you physically have picked up the passport with the visa inserted in it.
Q13: Do I owe any money for the visas?
A: If you have been receiving documentation from the National Visa Center, then most likely you have already paid the visa fee. If not, the current IV fee is U.S. $400 per applicant regardless of age.
All Diversity Visa lottery applicants must pay the $775 fee per applicant to the U.S. Embassy Monrovia on the day of the interview.
All K-1 and K-3 visas must pay the $131 nonimmigrant (visitor) visa application fee. The K-1 and K-3 fee is paid before your interview at the U.S. Embassy Monrovia on the day of your interview.
Q14: How do I book my medical exam?
A: We only accept medical examinations from the following clinics: Dr. Richard A.Sacra, Paynesville, Liberia; Dr. Lilly Sanvee, St. Joseph's Catholic Hospital, Sinkor, Monrovia; and Dr. Robert Kpoto, MEDLINK INTERNATIONAL CORP, Randall Street, Monrovia. Please contact one of these clinics to schedule your medical examination. Medical packets are available at the clinic but medical results are delivered directly to the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia.
Q15: How do I inquire about my DNA test?
A: You can send an email to us at consularmonrovia@state.gov with your name, case number, and specific question and someone will respond to your inquiry at our earliest convenience.
Q16: How do I check the status of my waiver?
A: The U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) adjudicates all waivers. You may contact the local DHS/USCIS office in Accra, Ghana, to inquire about your case’s status. The office can be reached at:
Q17: How do I check my priority date?
A: The Department of State publishes the list of current priority dates every month (known as the Visa Bulletin). You can find the current one, as well as archived bulletins at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin