V Visas
Family Based Second Preference Visa Applicants

The nonimmigrant category V visa has been created to reunite families separated while waiting for their family based (F2A) second preference immigrant visa applications to be processed. The V visa entitles the holder to travel to and from, and reside in, the United States until he or she becomes eligible to apply for an immigrant visa.

Who is eligible?

Spouses and children under the age of 21 of Lawful Permanent Residents who have been waiting at least three years for their immigrant visa applications to be processed in the family based second preference (F2A) category on the basis of a petition filed on or before December 21, 2000, are eligible to apply for the V visa, provided their priority date is not yet current, or the immigrant visa petition has not yet been approved.

How do I apply?

Those eligible to apply for the visa will receive written notification of their eligibility from the Kentucky Consular Center. On notification of your eligiblity to apply for the V visa, you should contact the Embassy that will process their immigrant visa application, that it to say the Embassy named on the immigrant visa petition. For residents of the United Kingdom, the Immigrant Visa Unit of this Embassy will process V visa applications. If you will be applying for the V visa at a post other than this Embassy, you must check with them for additional processing requirements.

Application procedures in London

On receiving notification of your eligibility to apply for the V visa, you should send a copy of the notification letter to the Immigration Visa Unit, 5 Upper Grosvenor Street, London W1A 2JB. On receipt, the Immigrant Visa Unit will send you the forms that you are required to complete in connection with the administrative processing of your application.

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