Applicants registered in the immediate relative category will be contacted within 30 days of returning form IV-F04 to schedule an appointment. Those registered for immigration in the family or employment based preference categories are subject to the annual numerical limitation on immigrants admitted into the United States. In such cases, the appointment for the formal visa interview is scheduled within two months of a visa number becoming available for the applicant’s use. Applicant will be sent an appointment information packet containing an invitation letter for the visa interview.
Who is required to attend the interview?
All applicants applying for immigration in the immediate relative category (IR), regardless of age, are required to visit the Embassy in person for a formal visa interview with a U.S. consular officer. In other immigrant visa, diversity visa and fiance cases, dependent children under 14 do not have to come to the Embassy. Outside parties, such as legal representatives, may not be present for the interview.
Visa fees
Each person immigrating, regardless of age, requires an immigrant visa. Those applicants who have not paid their visa processing fee at the NVC must pay it at the consular cashier before their interview. The fee is payable at the consular section, in cash in U.S. dollars or the equivalent in Polish currency at the Embassy’s exchange rate; or by a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Novus/Discover or Diners only). Checks are not accepted, euros are not accepted either. The fee is not refundable, even if an application is turned down. Please bring the exact amount of money to pay your visa application.
Note: Applicants from non-E.U. countries may only pay with cash.
Will the visa be issued on the day of the interview?
Due to enhanced security regulations, visas cannot be issued on the day of the interview. All applicants, residents of Poland as well as non-residents, have to register online at www.ustraveldocs.com/pl and choose their passport pick-up option. You can choose either Premium Delivery (for additional 24 PLN paid directly to TNT on delivery to your home) or you can select a TNT pick-up location before you come for your interview. Details on passport delivery are available at http://ustraveldocs.com/pl/pl-niv-passporttrack.asp . Please print out the confirmation page and bring it with you. You may also register and choose your visa delivery option through our call center at +48 22 307 1361 in Poland (Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm) or +1 (703) 988-7101 in the United States (Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm EST).
For all non-residents (i.e. Belarusians) the place designated by the Embassy for the next business day visa pick-up is the TNT office in Warsaw, located at 19 Annopol Street.
Visa Ineligibilites
Under U.S. visa law some people are permanently ineligible to receive an immigrant visa and are not eligible to enter the United States unless they have obtained a waiver of the permanent ineligibility. These include persons who have been afflicted with a disease of public health significance, a mental disorder which is associated with a display of harmful behavior, drug or alcohol addicts/abusers, and those with criminal records. Anyone who has been arrested and/or convicted of any offense, regardless of when it may have occurred, is required to declare the arrest and/or conviction. A determination on a person’s eligibility for a visa cannot be made until the day of the formal visa interview. If the applicant is found ineligible for a visa, the consular officer will advise the applicant if he/she is eligible to apply for a waiver of the permanent ineligibility and of the steps which must be taken to apply for the waiver.
Immigrant visa applicants who are applying for a waiver from outside the United States are no longer able to file the Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility, at the American Embassy or Consulate overseas, but have to send their I-601 form and supporting documents by mail to the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox facility. For more information please check the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/i-601 .
Requests for reconsiderations of a visa adjudication may be submitted through our Correspondence Unit. To send your e-mail please send to publicwaw@state.gov.
