The Department of State’s National Visa Center (“NVC”) has provided information on its new Immigrant Visa Electronic Processing Program (the “Program”), a pilot project that uses electronic communication and documentation methods to simplify and accelerate the immigrant visa application process. The Program uses e-mail for communication and submission of all forms and documents to the NVC using Portable Document Format (“PDF”).

Under the Program, all forms will be downloaded, completed, signed (if required), scanned, saved as PDF files, and e-mailed to the NVC. Required civil documents and supporting documents must be converted to PDF files by scanning and e-mailed to the NVC. After the NVC has completed processing the applicant’s petition, the applicant will need to present the original physical documents to the US Embassy/Consulate at the time of the applicant’s visa interview. Failure to do so may cause a delay or denial of the visa being sought.

The Program applies to the following applicants:

1. Applicants who are applying for a visa at the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan are required to process electronically.
2. Applicants who are applying for a visa at the U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, in the following visa categories are required to process electronically if the first three letters of their NVC Case Number are MEP:
   • CR1 Conditional Spouse of United States Citizen
   • CR2 Conditional Child of United States Citizen
   • IR1 Spouse of United States Citizen
   • IR2 Child of United States Citizen
3. The option to participate is initially limited to visa applicants who are applying for a visa at the U.S. Embassies in Guangzhou, China and Montreal, Canada.

If eligible to participate in the Program, the applicant (or designated agent) and the petitioner must:

1. Have regular access to e-mail internet service;
2. Have the ability to scan required documents into PDF files; and
3. Be able to submit all forms electronically (no paper copies will be accepted).

All visa applicants, their designated agent (if applicable), and their petitioner will need to follow the processing requirements in order to successfully complete electronic processing of the immigrant visa petition. If the applicant and/or designated agent meets the above requirements and chooses to participate, further information on electronic processing requirements appears here.

If the applicant and/or designated agent DOES NOT meet the above requirements, the applicant is not eligible for participation in the Program. Such an applicant (or an applicant who is eligible but who chooses not to participate) should follow the instructions provided in the National Visa Center’s letter (e.g. paying the applicable fee or mailing the Choice of Address and Agent Form, DS-3032, to the NVC).

The Program represents a positive change. Previously, immigrant visa applicants were required to submit their original documents to the NVC, which could potentially have resulted in lost original documents. The Program now allows applicants to submit PDF copies of required documents and to simply bring the original documents to their final interview.