Family Visa Application Tracking in Charlotte

The immigrant visa application process is complicated. Even after submitting your initial documents, you can be subject to wait times based on factors such as visa availability.

Waiting to hear back on your or a close family member’s visa application approval is stressful. You should contact an attorney if you need assistance tracking your family visa application in Charlotte.

Tracking Your Family Visa Petition

The application process for family-based visas begins with filing a Form I-130 petition. This petition is typically filled out by the family member sponsoring their relative.

Immediate family members are given priority when the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is processing visa applications. These visas have no numerical restrictions. Other family-based visa applications are limited on an annual basis.

Once the I-130 is submitted, you can begin tracking your Charlotte family visa case online. You will receive a receipt number with a specific 13-character identifier that you can use to track your status.

You can also check the potential processing time prior to filing your visa petition with the field office or service center that will likely handle the application.

Utilizing the Visa Bulletin

If your visa petition is approved, USCIS will send the petition over to the Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC may request additional information and processing fees.

The NVC will process your application in accordance with your priority date, and issue a Visa Case Number that you can use to track the status of your family visa application in Charlotte.

The Department of State allocates and processes visas based on factors such as the preference category, the applicant’s origin country, and the priority date for your application.

The Department of State also publishes a monthly publication called the Visa Bulletin that provides applicants with visa availability information and lets them know when they can proceed with the final steps of the process. The Visa Bulletin lets you know your place in the queue for the final steps of processing.

If the immigrant is already in the country under lawful means, they will proceed with the next steps in their application by filing a Form I-485 petition for an adjustment of status. Certain family members can concurrently file this petition with their Form I-130.

Applicants located outside the country will need to go through consular processing at a U.S. embassy. The Visa Bulletin can help you track when to proceed with the final steps in the process.

You May Have Options if Your Visa Application is Denied

Receiving an unfavorable decision when tracking your family visa application in Charlotte is not necessarily the end of the process. It is important to note that you may still have the ability to appeal your decision with the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office.

When you receive your decision, the document will state whether you are eligible to appeal. The USCIS office that made the original decision is responsible for conducting an initial field review and has 45 days to make a decision on whether to take favorable action.

The deadline to file an appeal is 30 days in most cases. Even if you are ineligible to appeal, you may still have the ability to file a motion to reopen or a motion to reconsider. For example, a motion for reconsideration may help if new facts emerge that can help your case.

It is important to hire competent legal counsel when pursuing appeals, as you may be subject to formal hearings or have to submit legal briefs.

Ask a Charlotte Lawyer About Tracking Your Family Visa Application

The uncertainty of waiting for a ruling on an immigration case is stressful. Government agencies provide a variety of tools to allow for family visa application tracking in Charlotte.

It is best to speak with an attorney before you begin the visa application process. If you have questions about how to track a visa application, please contact our firm as soon as possible.