Immigrant Visas

NEW!!! Effective immediately there are three Panel Physician clinics: two in Almaty, Kazakhstan and one in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.  All immigrant visa applicants, including adoptive parents, may choose which clinic to use.

In Almaty

IMC - International Medical Center
235, Mukanova st, Almaty
Telephone: +7 (727) 268-61-61

SOS Clinic
11 Luganskogo St., Almaty
Telephone: +7 (727) 258-19-11

In Dushanbe

Prospekt Medical Clinic
33, Sanoi St., Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Telephone: +992 37 224-30-62, 224-30-92
E-mail: prospekt-clinic@tajnet.com
Website: www.prospektclinic.com

An immigrant visa is required of anyone who wishes to enter the United States to reside there indefinitely, whether or not that person plans to seek employment in the United States.

General Categories

U.S. immigration law provides for the issuance of immigrant visas in four general categories:

• Immediate relative - a spouse, parent or minor child of a U.S. citizen
• Family based - an adult child or sibling of a U.S. citizen
• Employment based - workers that meet certain employment criteria
• Diversity Immigrant Visa Program - known as the "green card" lottery.

The U.S. Embassy in Almaty does not handle refugee cases. Persons seeking refugee status must contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

GENERAL INFORMATION: VISA DENIALS

If an applicant is not issued a visa because, for example, a document is missing, he or she is given notification in writing at the time of the interview. Please review this notification before contacting the Embassy with questions about the case. If the interviewing consular office determines that the case is not approvable at post, the case will be returned to USCIS via NVC for their review. If a petition was filed with the Consular section in Almaty, Bishkek, Dushanbe, or Tashkent, the case will be transferred to the regional DHS office in Moscow. Once a case is returned for review, the Embassy in Almaty has no jurisdiction over the case. Inquiries about the case must be directed to the USCIS office where the petition was filed.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

Before the issuance of an immigrant visa, every applicant, regardless of age, must undergo a medical examination. Examination costs must be borne by the applicant, in addition to the visa fees.

VISA FEES

The cost of each immigrant visa application processing fee is $400 U.S. dollars (cash only). Fees must be paid per person regardless of age and are not refundable. Local currency equivalents are not acceptable. Fees should not be sent to the consular office unless specifically requested. The USCIS may charge additional fees for filing petitions.

VISA INELIGIBILITY/WAIVER

In order to protect the health, welfare, and security of the U.S., the immigration laws of the United States prohibit visa issuance to certain applicants. This includes persons who have a communicable disease such as tuberculosis, or have a dangerous physical or mental disorder, or are drug addicts; have committed serious criminal acts, including crimes involving moral turpitude, drug trafficking, and prostitution or procuring; are terrorists, subversives, members of a totalitarian party or former Nazi war criminals; are likely to become public charges in the U. S.; have used fraud or other illegal means to enter the U.S.; or are ineligible for citizenship. Some former exchange visitors must live abroad 2 years. Physicians who intend to practice medicine must pass a qualifying exam before receiving immigrant visas.

If any of the above restrictions might apply, then a statement regarding the facts should be submitted to the consular officer, who will advise the applicant if the law provides for some form of waiver.

Application for waiver is considered by USCIS. Applicants residing in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan can apply for waiver through the U.S. Embassy in Almaty. Application for a waiver with the supporting documents and fee will be forwarded to the regional DHS office in Moscow for consideration.

NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS

Whenever there are more qualified applicants for a category than there are available numbers, the category will be considered oversubscribed, and immigrant visas will be issued in the chronological order in which the petitions were filed until the numerical limit for the category is reached. The filing date of a petition becomes the priority date. Immigrant visas cannot be issued until an applicant’s priority date is reached. In certain oversubscribed categories, there may be a waiting period of several years before a priority date is reached. Check the Visa Bulletin for the latest priority dates.

NO ASSURANCES THAT VISA WILL BE ISSUED

Since no advance assurances can be given that a visa will be issued, applicants are advised not to make any final travel arrangements, not to dispose of their property, and not to give up their jobs until visas have been issued to them. An immigrant visa is valid for six months from date of issuance.

EXIT PERMIT

All citizens of former Soviet Republics (CIS) are required to obtain Permission for Permanent Residence Abroad (exit permit) from the local Migration Police Office (formerly OVIR). All questions regarding the procedure for obtaining the above-mentioned permission should be addressed to the local migration police office.

CLAIM TO U.S. CITIZENSHIP

With few exceptions, a person born in the U.S. has a claim to U.S. citizenship. Persons born in countries other than the U.S. may have a claim, under U.S. law, to U.S. nationality if: Either parent was born or naturalized in the United States, or Either parent was a U.S. citizen at the time of the applicant's birth.

Any applicant believing that he or she may have a claim to United States citizenship should not apply for a visa until his or her citizenship has been determined by the consular office.