Once USCIS has approved a visa petition, it is necessary to have the visa stamped into the candidate's passport.
The visa is stamped into the candidate's passport at a local US Embassy or Consulate; this process generally takes from 1 to 3 weeks from the visa interview.
Candidates already in the US may, if they are on a non-immigrant visa (such as a B1/B2 visit visa), be able to apply to the BCIS for adjustment (if changing to immigrant) or change (if changing to other non-immigrant) of status while remaining in the US. This option is not open to candidates who are present in the US under the visa-waiver scheme. Also, if the candidate did not advise of the possibility of a change of status to the relevant US Embassy or Consulate beforehand, USCIS may be reluctant to permit an application for adjustment of status.
Where a visa is being stamped into a passport at a US Embassy, the following documents should be provided:
| F-156 Form | This is the standard non-immigrant visa form for entry to the US. In most cases, it must be completed before a visa can be issued. |
|---|---|
| DS-157 Form | Check Embassy or Consulate regarding who must complete this |
| I-797 | Notice of Approval of petition by USCIS, if relevant. |
| Letter from Employer | Necessary for the B1 in lieu of H-1, 'blanket' L1 and E visas for employees, useful in other cases. |
| The Applicant's Passport | The passport should be valid for at least six months (not necessary for British Citizens and certain other nationals), and should have two pages free for endorsements. |
| Passport Photograph | This is the usual passport sized photograph commonly available. |
| Other | Various other supporting documentation depending on visa classification and location of Consulate/Embassy |
