Next steps after IR5 visa approval

The IR5 visa is a family based green card for parents overseas of US citizens who wish to join their child in the US.

The Citizenship and Immigration Services does not put a yearly cap on IR5 visas as it is classed as an Immediate Relative Visa and applicants do not have to wait until their application becomes current.

It is important to make an IR5 visa application for each parent individually and once approved holders can live and work freely in the US without the requirement of an Employment Authorization Document.

The IR5 visa is only for parents so if parents have other minor children living abroad with them they can not bring them to the US on this visa. Instead, the sponsoring child in the US will need to petition for a F4 (Sibling Visa) separately – F4 visas are not regarded as immediate relative green cards by US Immigration Services and therefore do have an annual cap in place.

There are a number of important next steps once you have been informed that your application for a IR5 visa has been approved by the Citizenship and Immigration Services.

You will receive your supporting documents, such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, vaccination documents etc back – including your passport that will be sent with a courier service.

Your passport will have been updated with a valid visa. You will also receive a sealed packet – you must not open this packet. Instead, it should remain sealed until you travel to the US when it will be given to immigration services on your arrival into the country.

The sealed packet

It can be tempting to open up the sealed packet to check the contents but you must avoid doing this as it must not be tampered with before you arrive in the US.

The sealed packet contains the following documents:

• A copy of your IR5 visa application
• A copy of your medical examination
• Copies of your I.D. such as your birth certificate
• I-864 (Affidavit of Support) and any other financial supporting documents
• Documents supporting your relationship to the U.S. citizen such as a birth or adoption certificate
• Any other information and supporting documents regarded as important to your immigrant visa application

If you do unseal the packet then you will need to contact your local US embassy or consulate to ask them to reseal it.

Before you travel to the US you will also need to make sure you have paid the USCIS immigrant fee. This fee can be paid online via the USCIS Electronic Immigration System (ELIS). It is advised that you pay this processing fee as soon possible after being notified that your green card application has been approved- otherwise you could risk potential delays.

You also need to ensure that you travel to the US before your new visa expires – in most cases this means entering the United States within six months.

When you arrive in the US, the sealed packet will be opened by an immigration officer. You should not pack the sealed packed into your checked baggage but keep it in your carry-on so you can access it easily. Once it has been verified you will then be given an “alien number”.  This very important number allows you to work in the US and it will be added to your valid passport. It will also allow you to travel in and out of the country while your green card is being processed.

Approval and Welcome Pack

Once your green card application has been approved, the USCIS will send you a welcome pack – “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants”. This will be sent within 30 days of application approval.

This pack includes a lot of information about living and working in the US, such as:

• Information about your rights and responsibilities as a Green Card holder
• Information about potential consequences for criminal behavior
• Lists of Federal Government agencies and departments and their contact information
• Information about U.S. government assistance programs
• Information about how to properly maintain your permanent resident status
• Information about how to get a Social Security number, find a job and place to live, seek out childcare, get a driver’s license, open a bank account, etc
• An overview of U.S. history and civics
• Information about becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen

Permanent resident card after approval

The timescale for receiving your permanent residence card will vary as it depends on when you paid the USCIS immigrant visa fee.

• If you paid the immigrant fee before entering the U.S. then you will receive your green card within 90 days of entry.
• If you paid the immigrant fee after entering the U.S. then you will receive your green card within 90 days of payment receipt.
• If you have not paid the immigrant fee then the card will not be processed or sent.