Where to find immigrant visa number

To adjust to permanent resident status once the immigrant visa is granted, you must either be present in the U. So, even if approved for an immigrant visa, an immigrant visa number may not be available. The time between visa approval and receiving the visa number can be years. If a country has a high immigration rate to the U. Most often, an immigrant doesn't personally request an immigrant visa number. The person notified of approval is the person who applied.

This might be the family or employer of the person granted the visa. The family or employer of the applicant will also be notified when the visa number is available. There's no need to contact the National Visa Center unless there's been a change of address or there is a change in the personal relationship between the petitioner and the applicant.

There's an exception. Parents, spouses, and unmarried children under the age of 21 of U. If someone doesn't fit into those categories, they are rewarded visa numbers in the following preference order:. Spouses of lawful permanent residents and unmarried children no age requirement of lawful permanent residents and their children.

Married children of U. Siblings of adult U. For anyone who wants to become an immigrant based on employment , there's a different waiting preference for immigrant visa numbers:. Aliens with extraordinary abilities, outstanding researchers and professors, and multinational executives. Professionals holding advanced degrees or people with exceptional ability. Special immigrants this might include people in religious vocations. It's helpful to check the State Department website for current wait times.

They post a bulletin with the current month and year they're working on for visa petitions by country and preference category. Compare the priority date and date listed on the bulletin to get an idea of when the approval or denial might be available. Your visa number is the red number printed on the visa stamp inside your passport.

A visa number is the unique number, printed in red ink, on your visa stamp inside your passport, that's given to each person who receives a visa when entering the U. For immigrants to the U. First, a visa petition must be filed. Once the petition for a visa is granted, the person must then wait for a visa number. I Remove Conditions on Residence. I Application for Employment Authorization.

I Affidavit of Support. N Application for Naturalization. N Application to Replace Citizenship Document. Apply For Citizenship N Replace Citizenship Document N Apply for Certificate of Citizenship N Citizenship Resource Center. Citizenship Cost Calculator. Green Card. Renew a Green Card I Replace a Green Card I Remove Conditions on Green Card I Get a Reentry Permit I Green Card Center. Adjustment of Status. Judicial Assistance Country Information. The Visa Bulletin. Visa Statistics. The Report of the Visa Office is an annual report providing statistical information on immigrant and non-immigrant visa issuances by consular offices, as well as information on the use of visa numbers in numerically limited categories.

The Visa Office has a limited supply of older reports. You may ask about the availability of these from the Visa Office. You are about to leave travel. Department of State.