Immigrant Visa Numbers:
U.S. law limits the number of immigrant visa numbers that are available every year, which
is one of the reasons for the preference system mentioned above.
As a result, you may not get an immigrant visa number immediately after your immigrant
visa petition is approved. In some cases, several years could pass between the time USCIS
approves your immigrant visa petition and the State Department gives you an immigrant visa
number.
Because U.S. law also limits the number of immigrant visas available by country, you may
have to wait longer if you come from a country with a high demand for U.S. immigrant
visas.
You do not directly apply for an immigrant visa number. USCIS will tell the person who
filed the immigrant visa petition (the petitioner) if it is approved. USCIS will then send
the approved visa petition to the Department of State's National Visa Center, where it
will remain until an immigrant visa number is available.
The Center will notify you (the beneficiary of the application) when the visa petition is
received and again when an immigrant visa number is available.
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