Visa Applications - Does your application need USCIS approval?

Did you know that visas in the United States have different application processes depending on where you’re applying from?

Some visas only require you to apply for the visa itself. This could be, for example, a tourist visa, an E-1, or an E-2. If you are applying from outside of the USA, you will have to go through the relevant consulate; if you are applying from within the USA, you can go through USCIS and bypass the trip to the consulate.

Other visas, such as the L-1, require you to start with USCIS regardless of where you’re applying from. If you’re already in the States, the USCIS will act as the consulate, switching you automatically should your application be approved. If you’re outside of the States, the process has an extra layer: USCIS approves it first, then sends the info to the National Visa Center, which holds it for you and asks you to choose the consulate you want it transferred to. This process can add an extra month to your application processing, give or take.

For more information on the visa application process, check out the Symple website.