If you are applying for a green card from outside the United States, you will be preparing file the DS-260 online form, which is handled through the National Visa Center (NVC) and your local U.S. embassy or consulate. The DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application is the U.S. State Department’s process for applying for permanent residence in the United States. While certain individuals already present in the U.S. may be able to apply through adjustment of status, individuals outside the U.S. must go through consular processing.
The DS-260 online form is the path to submit this formal request for an immigrant visa. Individuals with an immigrant visa are known as permanent residents and will be issued a green card once inside the United States.
The following applicants must use Form DS-260, Online Immigrant Visa Application:
- Immediate relatives of U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs)
- Employment-based and investor visa applicants
- Returning residents (SB-1)
- DV (Diversity Visa) winners
Each applicant - including children - must have their own DS-260 visa application. The DS-260 form must be submitted online and the printed confirmation page must be brought to the interview. The U.S. Embassy will not accept handwritten or typed applications.
What is the Kentucky Consular Center?
The Kentucky Consular Center was established by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) in the year 2000 to take over administration of the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery program from the National Visa Center(NVC) located in Portsmouth, NH. The U.S. Department of State Kentucky Consular Center is located in Williamsburg, Kentucky. There is only one Kentucky Consular Center (KCC). There are other organizations who use similar names or even domain names, but they are in no way affiliated with the Department of State or the KCC.
The KCC will continue to process the DV Lottery case until the selected applicants are instructed to appear for a visa interview at a U.S. consular office or until those qualifying to change their status in the U.S. apply at a domestic U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office.
KCC will send appointment letters to selected applicants four to six weeks before the scheduled interviews with the U.S. consular officers at overseas U.S. embassies/consulates. Diversity Visas will be issued every month to those applicants who are ready for issuance during that month, provided the visa-number is available.
What is the National Visa Center?
The National Visa Center (NVC) is a U.S. government office in Portsmouth, New Hampshire that processes all green card applications for people who are living outside of the United States and applying through their local U.S. embassy or consulate. When NVC informs you it is time, you may prepare the DS-260 in the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) of the Department of State. Remember, you’ll need your case number and other personal details before you can start.
Filing the DS-260
Be prepared to use English. So if you’re not comfortable reading English, get someone like your petitioner to help you. If you are listing addresses or names that aren’t in the Roman alphabet, you must transliterate them.
- List all children. Regardless of their ages, list all of your children, including stepchildren, legally adopted children and biological children. To qualify as a step child, generally the child must have been under age 18 at the time of the parents’ marriage.
- Be truthful. Always provide honest answers when preparing U.S. immigration forms. Immigration officials are well trained to find discrepancies. If you feel your answer to a question will create a problem, speak to an immigration attorney.
- Review your social media. The U.S. government will ask you to disclose your social media accounts and will review your online presence. Be on your best behavior when posting information online.
- Review you answers. Before submitting the application, take the time to review your answers. If necessary, you’ll be able to save your progress.
Supporting Documents
After you submit your DS-260, the NVC/KCC will send out a notice (again via mail or email) confirming receipt of your DS-260, usually on the same day. You will then need to submit your supporting documents to the NVC/KCC as well. Depending on which consulate is processing the application, you will either upload, email, or mail all of the supporting documents to the NVC. It’s important to submit all the documents in the way the NVC instructs you to—some U.S. consulates require physical copies, while others allow for emailing or uploading digital copies.
When you sign your DS-260 electronically, you are certifying that all the information contained in it is true and correct. Misrepresenting any facts could render you ineligible to enter the United States. Please double-check that all your answers are accurate and that every question is answered completely. However, there is no guarantee that a visa will be issued even you fill the right details in DS-260 forms. A consular officer can make a decision regarding the eligibility for a visa only after having reviewed the application and all supporting documents, and after having personally interviewed the applicants.
Numerically Controlled Visas
Certain visa classes are numerically controlled. This means there is an annual limit on the number of immigrant visas that can be issued in each category in a given year. Families are encouraged to interview and travel together to avoid separation and undue hardship. Fill up your DS260 form early.
Note: Any inquiries on completing the DS-260 can be addressed on the following website, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/online-immigrant-visa-forms/ds-260-faqs.html.
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