Interview Preparation

Interview Preparation (1) Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 For a select number of US Embassies and Consulates, the National Visa Center (NVC) arranges for the scheduling of the applicant’s interview. After receiving notification from the NVC that the applicant has an interview scheduled, take the following actions: Warning: Do not take any action described below without authorization from the NVC. Taking action without the NVC's authorization could result in a delay in processing.

Notification from the NVC After receiving notification from the NVC that the applicant has been scheduled for an interview: 1. Review the information sent by the NVC to determine the Date, Time, and Location of the applicant’s immigrant visa interview. 2. Prepare for the Medical Examination. (Includes panel physician list by country) 3. Ensure that all necessary original documents will be available at the time of the interview. 4. Review the U.S. Embassy/Consulate General-specific interview guidelines. 5. Review the Important Visa Interview Notices. 6. Questions: Please see the Immigrant Visa Interview Frequently Asked Questions. NOTE: For information regarding how to obtain a social security number, please visit the Social Security Administration’s website. Above information Collected from the link below http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3731.html

Interview Preparation (2) Page 1 2 3 4 5 6

Medical Examination All intending immigrants, regardless of age, are required to have a medical examination before a visa can be issued. Medical examinations may only be done by a specially appointed panel physician. The medical examination will include a medical history, physical examination, chest X-ray and blood tests for syphilis and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The physical examination will include at a minimum examination of the eyes, ears, nose and throat, extremities, heart, lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes, skin and external genitalia. • •

Preparing for the medical examination Medical Examination Frequently Asked Questions

Preparing for the medical examination The applicant’s medical examination must be performed by one of a panel of doctors authorized to complete the medical examination and x-ray of U.S. visa applicants. The following steps will walk an applicant through the process of preparing for the medical examination. 1. Select the first three letters of the applicant’s NVC case number from the following dropdown list. 2. Click on Panel Physician List. - Select NVC Case Number -

( Note - About Adobe Reader : In order to download the Panel Physician List, you will need to have a recent version of Adobe Reader installed on your computer. If you do not have Adobe Reader on your computer, please visit http://www.adobe.com. There is no charge to download Adobe Reader. Please note that you may receive a "file corrupted" error message if you are using an older version of Adobe Reader.) 3. Contact one of the designated physician’s offices to arrange the applicant’s medical exam. Please give the doctor the date of the immigrant visa appointment or explain that the exam is for an immigrant visa applicant. The panel physician will advise you of the cost of the exam and tests. 4. Obtain the applicant’s vaccination records, immunization records, and prior chest xrays. 5. Bring the following to the examination: o Copies of prior medical records, immunization records, and prior chest x-rays o The applicant’s passport, identity card, laissez-passer, or travel document

6. Questions: If the applicant has any special medical conditions or to answer any general questions about the medical examination, please see the Medical Examination Frequently Asked Questions. Above information Collected from the link below http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3739.html

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Required Documents The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all required documents are available at the time of the interview. While the applicant may have previously submitted the majority of required documents to the National Visa Center (NVC), the applicant may not have submitted all necessary documents to the NVC. Failure to bring all required documentation to the interview may result in a delay in visa issuance or a visa refusal. The following documents must be available for the interview: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Appointment Letter Passport(s) valid for six months beyond the intended date of entry into the United States Police Certificate(s) Birth Certificate(s) Court and prison records, if applicable Military records, if applicable Color photographs Marriage Certificate, if applicable Evidence of financial support (e.g. Affidavit of Support, a notarized offer of employment, or evidence of assets) Divorce decree or death certificate of spouse, if applicable Family-based cases: All original documents used to establish the relationship between the petitioner and the applicant Employment-based cases: A recent letter from the prospective employer confirming the essential elements of the job offer

Note: All documents not in English or in the official language of the country in which the interview takes place MUST be accompanied by a certified translation into English. Translations must be certified by a competent translator and sworn to before a Notary Public. << Previous Page | Next Page >> Above information Collected from the link below http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3740.html

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Embassy/Consulate General-specific interview guidelines Several US Embassies and Consulates have information that they want to ensure that applicants have before their interview. This information may vary from security considerations to directions to the interview location. To determine if the embassy/consulate where the visa interview will take place has any location-specific guidelines: 1. Select the first three letters of the applicant’s NVC case number from the following dropdown list. 2. Click on US Embassy/Consulate-specific information. - Select NVC Case Number -

In order to download US Embassy/Consulate General-specific information, you will need to have a recent version of Adobe Reader installed on your computer. If you do not have Adobe Reader on your computer, please visit http://www.adobe.com. There is no charge to download Adobe Reader. Please note that you may receive a "file corrupted" error message if you are using an older version of Adobe Reader. << Previous Page | Next Page >> Above information Collected from the link below http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3742.html

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Important Visa Interview Notices The applicant should be aware of the following information prior to the interview: • •

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Failure to bring a copy of the appointment letter to the interview may delay the interview No assurance can be given in advance that a visa will be issued. A consular officer can make a decision only after the applicant’s formal application and documents are reviewed, and the applicant interviewed. The applicant is advised to NOT make any travel arrangements, dispose of any property, or give up employment until the visa has been issued.

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An immigrant visa is usually valid for a maximum of six months from the date of issuance. The applicant must travel and apply for admission to the United States within that 6-month period. The interviewing office will make every effort to expedite the applicant’s visa application on the day of the interview; however, it is a process that requires several hours. It is possible that the applicant will have to spend several hours in the office before final action can be taken on the application. Should complications arise, it is unlikely that the applicant will receive a visa on the day of the appointment; the applicant may have to return to the US Embassy/Consulate General another time. Applicants who were previously issued J1 visas and studied, worked, or lived in the United States as exchange visitors (and those who are currently in the U.S. as exchange visitors) should be aware that the two-year foreign residence requirement may apply to them. Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) provides that certain aliens admitted to the U.S. under INA 101(a)(15)(J) are subject to a two-year foreign residence and physical presence. The requirement also applies to spouses and children of the J1 visa holders if they entered the U.S. under the exchange visitor program. An immigrant visa may not be issued if there is a finding of ineligibility under section 212(e). The consular officer will provide those affected by this requirement with information about how this ineligibility may be overcome. If the applicant is 20 years old and the applicant's 21st birthday is prior to the appointment date, please immediately contact the U.S. Embassy/Consulate General where the applicant is scheduled for an interview so that they can advise you whether an earlier appointment is possible. Visa categories are based upon the age of the applicant at the time of visa issuance, rather than when the petition was filed, and failure to receive a visa prior to the applicant's 21st birthday may mean that the applicant is no longer eligible for an immigrant visa at this time.

Failure to appear Section 203(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act requires that an intending immigrant pursue his/her visa application within one year from the date he/she is informed that it is possible to do so. Receiving notification from the NVC that a visa interview appointment has been set is notice to the applicant that it is possible to pursue an application for a visa. If the applicant fails to do so within one year from the date of the interview, the application and any visa petition approved for the applicant will be cancelled.

Immigrants Advised to Carry Immunization and Other Records to United States Every state in the United States now requires that children have a record of complete immunization at the time of a child’s first enrollment into school. In most states, this applies to transfer students entering any grade. Therefore, the US Public Health Services (USPHS) strongly recommends that children entering the country should either have evidence of immunity consisting of physician documentation of prior disease, or a record of immunizations.

Panel physicians shall inform immigrant visa applicants at the time of examination that problems may be encountered should they enter the United States without proper health records and certifications of vaccinations, and they shall urge the applicants to obtain such documents from their private physicians, local health departments, or schools prior to departure. << Previous Page Above information Collected from the link below http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3743.html

Immigrant Visa Interview Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Appointment Date, Time, and Location

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Medical Examination

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Photographs

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Original Documents

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Contact Information

Appointment Date, Time, and Location How will I know when the applicant’s interview is scheduled? For most US Embassies and US Consulates, the National Visa Center, NVC, will send appointment letters to all interested parties once the case is scheduled for an interview. The principal applicant, petitioner, and attorney/agent of record (if applicable) will each receive a copy of the appointment letter. The appointment letter will provide the reader with the date, time, and location of the applicant’s visa interview. The appointment letter should be brought to the visa interview.

Medical Examination General Questions • • • •

Are children required to have chest x-rays or blood tests? What if the applicant is mentally retarded or has a learning disability? What is the legal basis for requesting medical information for visa applicants? What should the applicant expect at the medical examination?

Medical Conditions/History • • • • • • •

What if the applicant had a positive tuberculosis skin test? What if the applicant had syphilis? If the applicant is pregnant must she have a chest x-ray? What if the applicant has a history of harmful or violent behavior? What if the applicant has been treated or hospitalized for psychiatric or mental illness, or alcohol or drug abuse? What if the applicant is being treated for a chronic medical condition or is taking medication on a regular basis? Can the applicant have a medical examination if she is having her menstrual period?

Physicians • •

Can the applicant have his/her physician perform the medical examination? Can the medical examination take place in the United States if the applicant is pursuing a visa application abroad while physically present in the United States?

Vaccinations • • •

What vaccinations are required? What do I do if the applicant does not have a vaccination record? What if there is a medical reason for the applicant to not receive a listed vaccination?

General Questions Are children required to have chest x-rays or blood tests? Children under 15 years of age do not routinely require a chest X-ray or blood tests. What if the applicant is mentally retarded or has a learning disability? Applicants with mental retardation or learning disabilities must present a report outlining their problems and any special requirements as far as education or supervision that may be required. What is the legal basis for requesting medical information for visa applicants?

Medical eligibility is a requirement under INA Sections 212(a) and 221(d). Failure to provide this information may delay or prevent the processing of an immigrant visa. If an immigrant visa is not issued, all medical eligibility forms will be treated as confidential under INA Section 222(f). What should the applicant expect at the medical examination? On the day of the medical appointment, the applicant must bring his/her passport (or other photo identification) and appointment letter to the doctor’s office. The medical examination will include a medical history, physical examination, chest X-ray and blood tests for syphilis and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The physical examination will include at a minimum: examination of the eyes, ears, nose and throat, extremities, heart, lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes, skin and external genitalia. In some countries, the panel physician will forward the results to the Embassy/Consulate directly. In other countries, the panel physician will provide the applicant with his/her medical exam results in a sealed envelope. If the panel physician provides the applicant with the results, the applicant must bring the x-ray and the unopened medical report to the interview. Note: The medical examination is not a full and complete physical examination. Its purpose is to screen only for certain medical conditions relevant to U.S. immigration law. Although in the course of the examination, the panel physician might uncover other matters related to your health, the physician is not required to examine you for any conditions except those the U.S. Public Health Service specifies for U.S. immigration purposes, nor is the physician required to provide you with any diagnosis or treatment. As such, you should not consider this examination to be a substitute for a full physical examination, consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by your primary health care provider. Medical Conditions/History What if the applicant had a positive tuberculosis skin test? If the applicant ever had a positive skin test for tuberculosis, please bring a certificate from the applicant’s doctor, outlining the circumstances surrounding the positive test result and, indicating what, if any, treatment was prescribed and for how may months. If the applicant has ever been diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis, the applicant must present a written certification, signed by the applicant’s doctor, proving that the applicant was adequately treated. The certificate must include dates and types of medications taken. If the applicant ever had an abnormal chest X-ray, please arrange to borrow the last X-ray films taken and bring them to the medical appointment. The actual films, not the typed reports, may be required to compare with the X-rays that will be taken at the medical appointment. What if the applicant had syphilis? If the applicant had syphilis, the applicant must present the panel doctor with a written certificate, signed by a doctor or public health official, proving that the applicant was

adequately treated. If the applicant ever had a positive VDRL or other blood test for syphilis, and was not treated, please bring a written explanation signed by the applicant’s doctor. If the applicant is pregnant must she have a chest x-ray? United States Public Health Service regulations allow for an exemption of the chest x-ray requirement for pregnant women. If the applicant is pregnant and does not wish to have the X-ray, a temporary exemption will be granted. To be granted the exemption, the applicant must bring to the examination written certification of her pregnancy signed by her personal physician or obstetrician. What if the applicant has a history of harmful or violent behavior? If the applicant has had any history of harmful or violent behavior resulting in injury to people or animals, or harm to inanimate objects, the applicant must provide information that will allow the doctors to determine if the behavior was related to any psychiatric or medical problem, or to drug or alcohol use. Harmful behavior includes attempted suicide or self-harm, no matter how minor in nature. What if the applicant has been treated or hospitalized for psychiatric or mental illness, or alcohol or drug abuse? Applicants treated or hospitalized for psychiatric or mental illness or alcohol or drug abuse must present written certification, which must include the diagnosis, duration of treatment rendered, and prognosis. What if the applicant is being treated for a chronic medical condition or is taking medication on a regular basis? Applicants being treated for chronic medical problems, or those taking medications on a regular basis, should be familiar with the medical conditions that they are suffering from, and the names of the medications they are taking. If the applicant is not sure of the diagnoses, please have the doctor prepare a certificate outlining the problems, the current treatment, and prognosis. Please bring a list of any medications that the applicant may be taking. Can the applicant have a medical examination if she is having her menstrual period? Yes, the applicant may have the examination even if she is having her menstrual period. Physicians Can the applicant have his/her physician perform the medical examination? The medical examination may not be done by the applicant’s family physician or any other doctor not listed as an approved panel physician. Can the medical examination take place in the United States if the applicant is pursuing a visa application abroad while physically present in the United States?

Visa medical examinations may not be conducted in the United States. An alien pursuing a visa application abroad while physically present in the United States must have the medical examination conducted by a panel physician who has been designated by the visa issuing post to conduct medical examination of aliens in the country in which the alien applies for a visa.

Vaccinations What vaccinations are required? The following vaccinations are required for immigration purposes: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Acellular pertussis Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Human papillomavirus (HPV) Influenza Influenza type b (Hib) Measles Meningococcal Mumps Penumococcal Pertussis Polio Rotavirus Rubella Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids Varicella Zoster

For the Panel Physician Technical Instructions relating to the vaccination requirements, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

What do I do if the applicant does not have a vaccination record? The panel physician will work with the applicant to determine which vaccinations the applicant may need to meet the requirement. What if there is a medical reason for the applicant to not receive a listed vaccination? Only a physician can determine which of the listed vaccinations are medically appropriate for the applicant, given the applicant’s age, medical history, and current medical condition. Certain waivers of the vaccination requirement are available upon the recommendation of the panel physician. Above information Collected from the link below http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3745.html

Photographs Appointment NVC Processing The applicant and each family member who will accompany the applicant to the United States will need to submit two front-view color photographs with a white background.

Guidelines The photographs must be square measuring 2 inches x 2 inches (5 cm x 5 cm). • • • •

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Head should be positioned directly facing the camera Photographs should capture from slightly above top of hair to middle of chest Eyes should be open and looking at the camera Eyeglasses should be worn if normally used by the subject o Glare on eyeglasses can usually be avoided with a slight upward or downward tilt of the head Background should be white or off-white Include headpieces if worn daily for religious purposes; they should not obscure or cause shadows on the eyes or any other part of the face

Photo Assistance Head Facing the Camera To prevent geometric distortion and ensure an adequate depth of field, the camera should be placed at the subject’s eye level and approximately 4 ft (120 cm) from the subject. By placing the subject on an adjustable height seat, the height of the camera tripod can be fixed. A lens of about 105 mm focal length on a 35 mm film camera, or its equivalent on any other camera, should provide a sufficiently flat field of view. Eyes A slight downward tilt of the head will usually eliminate glare on eyeglasses. If this does not reduce the glare, try tilting the head slightly upward or rotating the glasses slightly upward or downward. The head should not be tilted by more than a few degrees to eliminate glare. “Red Eye” conditions should be avoided. Red eye is caused by a direct reflection, through the pupil, from the retina of the eye when an on-camera flash is used, particularly for a subject who has adapted to a darkened environment. Red eye can be reduced by using an off-camera flash or by brightening the ambient lighting. Background

A distracting background should be avoided. Use a plain wall or a photographer’s backdrop cloth as the background. The background color may be white or off-white. Ideally, the background will be out of focus so that minor markings or texture on the background are not apparent in the photo. Above information Collected from the link below http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3740.html

Original documents What original civil documents are required for an immigrant visa? The applicant and each family member who will accompany the applicant to the United States will need to obtain the following original documents or certified copies of the documents from an appropriate authority (the issuing entity). • • • • • • • •

Birth Certificate Court and Prison Records Deportation Documentation Marriage Certificate Marriage Termination Documentation Military Records Photocopy of Valid Passport Biographic Data Page Police Certificate(s)

All documents that pertain to the applicant’s petition are required, even if they were previously submitted to the CIS with the applicant’s petition. Do the applicant’s civil documents need to be translated to English? All documents not in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified English translations. The Translation must include a statement signed by the translator that states that the: • •

Translation is accurate, and Translator is competent to translate.

If the applicant previously submitted a civil document to Citizenship and Immigration Services, does the applicant need to submit it to the Department of State as well? All documents that pertain to the applicant’s petition are required, even if they were previously submitted to the CIS with the applicant’s petition. What if the applicant is unable to obtain a civil document?

Additional information on obtaining civil documents or what to do if a document is unobtainable are available by clicking on the following links or by contacting the National Visa Center. • • • • • • • •

Birth Certificate Court and Prison Records Deportation Documentation Marriage Certificate Marriage Termination Documentation Military Records Photocopy of Valid Passport Biographic Data Page Police Certificate(s)

Above information Collected from the link below http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3747.html

Contact information If the applicant has received an appointment letter, the National Visa Center (NVC) has completed processing the case and forwarded it to the assigned embassy/consulate. Therefore, if any questions regarding the interview should be directed to the assigned embassy/consulate. If the applicant has not had an interview scheduled and you would like additional information about the interview process, you may contact the NVC via the NVC’s Contact Information page.