INSTRUCTIONS FOR IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICANTS OPTIONAL FORM 169 (CPC) 4-98 DEPARTMENT OF STATE

This office has received evidence entitling you to immigrant visa status. While no assurance can be given regarding the date of your visa interview appointment, you should now prepare for that appointment by taking the following three steps:

FIRST: Complete and send immediately to the consular office processing your case the enclosed Form OF-230 Part I, APPLICATION FOR IMMIGRANT VISA AND ALIEN REGISTRATION (Biographic Data). The consular office cannot process your case until this form is received.

SECOND: Obtain the following documents on this checklist which pertain to you. As you obtain each document, check the box before each item. Do NOT send them to the consular office.

1. PASSPORTS: A Passport must be valid for travel to the United States and must have at least six months validity beyond the issuance date of the visa. Children may be included on a parentÌs passport, but if over the age of 16, they must have their photographs attached to the passport.

2. BIRTH CERTIFICATES: One certified copy of the birth certificate of each person named in the application is required. Birth records must be presented for all unmarried children under age 21, even if they do not wish to immigrate at this time. (If children are deceased, so state giving year of death.) The certificate must state the date and place of birth and the names of both parents. The certificate must also indicate that it is an extract from official records. If you, or any children were adopted, you must submit a certified copy of the final adoption decree. Photostatic copies are acceptable provided the original is offered for inspection by the consular officer.

UNOBTAINABLE BIRTH CERTIFICATE: In rare cases, it may be impossible to obtain a birth certificate because records have been destroyed or the government will not issue one. In such cases, you should obtain a statement to that effect from the civil registrarÌs office and proceed to obtain secondary evidence of birth. A baptismal certificate may be submitted for consideration provided it contains the date and place of the applicantÌs birth and information concerning parentage and provided the baptism took place shortly after birth. Should a baptismal certificate be unobtainable, a close relative, preferably the applicantÌs mother, should prepare a notarized statement giving the place and date of the applicantÌs birth, the names of both parents, and the maiden name of the mother. The statement must be executed before an official authorized to administer oaths or affirmations. In such cases, please bring any secondary evidence you might have concerning your birth.

3. POLICE CERTIFICATES: Each visa applicant aged 16 years or over is required to submit a police certificate from the police authorities of each locality of the country of the applicantÌs nationality or current residence where the applicant has resided for at least six months since attaining the age of sixteen. Police certificates are also required from all other countries where the applicant has resided for at least one year. A police certificate must also be obtained from the police authorities of any place where the applicant has been arrested for any reason, regardless of how long he or she lived there. Police certificates must cover the entire period of the applicantÌs residence in any area. A certificate issued by the police authorities where you now reside must be of recent date when presented to the consular officer. The term Òpolice certificate— as used in this paragraph means a certification by appropri ate police authorities stating what their records show concerning each applicant, including all arrests, the reasons for the arrests, and the disposition of each case of which there is a record. Police certificates from certain countries are considered unobtainable. See the attached list on form DSL- 1083. If specific questions arise regarding police certificates, please consult the consular office.

4. COURT AND PRISON RECORDS: Persons who have been convicted of a crime must obtain a certified copy of each court record and of any prison record, regardless of the fact that they may have benefited subsequently from an amnesty, pardon, or other act of clemency.

5. MILITARY RECORDS: A certified copy of any military record, if applicable and obtainable, is required.

6. PHOTOGRAPHS: Two (2) color photographs with white background on glossy paper, unretouched, and unmounted are required. The photograph must be a three-quarter frontal portrait with the right side of the face and right ear visible. The dimensions of the facial image must measure about one inch (30 mm) from chin to top of hair. No head covering or dark glasses should be worn.

7. EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT: Form I-864, a contractual affidavit of support, must be submitted for most family-based applicants and employment-based applicants when a relative is the petitioner or has ownership interest in the petitioning business. The enclosed information sheet provides guidance for preparing the I-864. Other applicants must show evidence that they are not likely to become public charges while in the United States.

8. MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES: Married persons are required to present a certified copy of their marriage certificate. Proof of the termination of any previous marriage must also be submitted (e.g., death certificate of spouse, final decrees of divorce or annulment).

9. ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS: If you are the beneficiary of a family-based immigrant visa petition, you must be prepared to present the originals of all civil documents which establish your claimed relationship to the petitioner.

10. TRANSLATIONS: All documents not in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified English translations. Translations must be certified by a competent translator and sworn to before a Notary Public. All documents in Japanese must be translated.)

ONLY ONE COPY OF EACH DOCUMENT, EXCEPT PHOTOGRAPHS, MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE VISA APPLICATION. YOU ARE ADVISED, HOWEVER, TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS IN DUPLICATE, AS THIS WILL ENABLE YOU TO PROVIDE IDENTICAL COPIES IN THE EVENT THE FIRST SET IS LOST OR DAMAGED.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY

THIRD: As soon as you have obtained all of the documents that apply to your case, carefully read the statement at the bottom of this page, sign and date it, and send the form to the consular office processing your case. You will not be scheduled for an appointment until you sign and return the checklist.

After this form has been sent to the consular office, you will be scheduled for a visa interview at the earliest possible date. It is not possible to predict when this will be since it depends upon when the priority date for your visa category and country becomes current. You will receive an appointment letter along with instructions for a medical examination approximately one month before your scheduled interview with a consular officer. You may not receive any further correspondence from the consular office until the appointment is scheduled.

The total fee for an immigrant visa is U.S. $325, or the local currency equivalent. Each applicant must be prepared to pay this fee on the appointment date.

You need not check with the consular office unless you have to report a CHANGE OF ADDRESS or change in your situation such as marriage, death of petitioner, or birth of children. Please do not send any documents to the consular office unless you are specifically requested to do so.

Enclosures: 1. Optional Form 230 Part I, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration - Biographic Data 2. Form DSL-l083, Immigrant Visa Supplemental Information Sheet 3. Form I-864, Affidavit of Support and Checklist

APPLICANT'S STATEMENT I have in my possession and am prepared to present all the documents listed in items 1 through 10 which apply to my case, as indicated by the check mark I have placed in the appropriate boxes. I fully realize that no advance assurance can be given when or whether a visa will actually be issued to me and I also understand that I should NOT give up my job, dispose of property, or make any final travel arrangements until a visa is actually issued to me. When it is possible for me to receive an appointment to make formal visa application, I intend to apply: (check appropriate boxes)

1.Alone
2.Together with my spouse (Print first name: )
3.Together with my spouse and the following minor children: (Print first names of each child who will accompany you)

DATE:
CASE NUMBER:
SIGNATURE:
PRINT NAME:
CURRENT ADDRESS:

COMMON QUESTIONS REGARDING STEP 2: NVC

An automated recorded message system can answer many common questions for cases pending at the NVC 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (603-334-0700). Status of case information can only be accessed by entering the NVC case number or the INS reciept number on a touch-tone telephone. Operators are available to respond to more difficult inquiries from 9:00 AM to 4:45PM(EST) Monday through Thursday.

If you move and you need to inform the NVC of your new address write to them at The National Visa Center, 32 Rochester Avenue, Portsmouth, NH, 03801-2909, or fax it to 603-334-0759. Make sure you always include your case number or INS receipt number.

If your relative was a legal permanent resident (green card holder) when he or she filed the petition, but is now a US citizen you need to inform the NVC to upgrade the petition. Send a copy of the Naturaliation Certificate -not the original - to the NVC with a letter containing the beneficiaries name and case number of the petition you want to upgrade.