Application Process
Step 1
U.S. citizens submit their application forms to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in their area of residence. If the U.S. petitioner has resided in China for more than six months, they may submit the application to the immigration office in Beijing or Guangzhou, depending on the jurisdiction of their place of residence.
Step 2
If the application is submitted in the United States, the approved I-130 will be sent directly to the National Visa Center (NVC) and then forwarded to the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou. The transit time from the NVC to Guangzhou is approximately 3-4 months. However, delays may occur due to customs clearance procedures in China.
Note: Once the NVC receives the application fee, they will mail you an immigration instruction packet (including Form DS-230 PDF). Please follow the instructions to complete the form and return it to the NVC along with the required documents.
If your I-130 is submitted in China, your immigration application will be sent directly to the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou without needing to go through the NVC. Once the Consulate General in Guangzhou receives the file, they will mail an instruction packet to your beneficiary.
Step 3
After receiving the file, the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou will first review it to ensure that the applicant's information is complete. If any documents are missing, the Consulate will mail an instruction packet to the beneficiary. Once it is confirmed that all materials are complete, the Consulate will schedule an interview for the applicant.
Step 4
Once the Consulate has determined the interview date, they will mail an appointment packet (also known as Packet 4) to the applicant, explaining how to prepare for the interview. The applicant must undergo a medical examination at a designated hospital before the interview.
