Which government agency processes my immigration application?

Irrespective of whether you apply for a green card, a work visa, or a non-immigrant visa (also known as temporary visa) you will most likely have to deal with one or a combination of government agencies during the immigration process. Some of the most common agencies you will interact with are as below and you should have an immigration lawyer helping you along the way.

The US Department of State (DOS)

The US Department of State’s official website is www.travel.state.gov. The DOS operates via US embassies and consulates that are scattered globally. For applicants applying to enter the US, these consulates are the first point of contact and you will mostly deal with them when applying for your visa.

Even immigrants who are already in the US and are looking to change or upgrade their immigration status may have to interact with the DOS according to immigration lawyers. The reason for this is because not all US based consulates offer visa processing services and applicants often have to travel to a consulate overseas to initiate and complete this process.

For more information on DOS and to locate US consulates closest to you, you can visit 

www.usembassy.gov.

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The National Visa Center

The National Visa Center is a private firm which works on a contract basis for the US Department of State. The main function of the National Visa Center is to look into certain intermediate case files during the green card process cycle.

Once the USCIS gives the green signal to a visa petition initiated by a US based relative of the applicant or an employer of the applicant, the National Visa Center then takes over the application process and looks into the details of the case according to immigration attorneys.

The National Visa Center is responsible for verifying information provided in the application and the legitimacy of the supporting documents submitted along with the application.

Once the National Visa Center is done with the application and the applications priority date arrives, then they forward the application to the concerned US consulate or USCIS district office accordingly.

USCIS – US Citizenship and Immigration Services

The USCIS are a part of DHS (Department of Homeland Security).

As per immigration lawyers, candidates applying for a green card will primarily have to deal with the USCIS. The federal agency conducts inter-agency criminal background and security checks for every applicant seeking naturalization. 

For the most part, immigration lawyers say that green card applications are initiated by a US based family member or employer who files the application with the USCIS.

For more information on the USCIS, you can visit their website www.uscis.gov.

Customs and Border Protection

Like all other countries, the United States also has a customs agency referred to as CBP or Customs and Border Patrol. You can visit their website www.cbp.gov.

They are responsible for meeting you at an entry port where you will arrive with a visa and to identify, verify and let you through.

DOL

Another agency that you will have to deal with especially if your visa is a work visa based on employment offered by an American company or organization, is the US Department of Labor (DOL) with whom you will have to file certain parts of your application. You should be working with an immigration lawyer throughout this entire process.