Two groups of family-based immigrant visa categories, immediate relatives and family preference, are provided under the provisions of U.S. immigration law, specifically the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).  You may wish to review our Directory of Visa Categories on usvisas.state.gov to learn more about these two categories of immigrant visas, as well as other types of immigrant visas to the United States, including our Diversity Visa Program.

To apply for an immediate relative or family preference immigrant visa, follow the steps on the Immigrant Visa Process on usvisas.state.gov.  Once you have completed those steps, review the instructions given to you by the National Visa Center (NVC), along with the information presented on this website, for further guidance and instructions.

Personal appearances at the U.S. Embassy are by appointment only. 

Update on Executive Order 13769:

The provisional revocation of January 27, 2017, which had revoked all valid visas of nationals of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen in accordance with Executive Order 13769, “Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Attacks by Foreign Nationals” is now lifted, and those visas are now valid for holders otherwise eligible for their visas.  Anyone with a valid visa may now use it to travel to the United States and does not need to apply for a new visa.