Immigrant Visas

STEP 3:  WHEN YOUR PETITION IS APPROVED

If your petition was approved and your visa class has no numerical restrictions, the Athens IV unit will request from you by mail the following document:

• DS-230 (175.4 PDF KB)

The biographic data form DS-23O should be completed for each person applying for a visa, regardless of age. The DS-23O should be completed and returned immediately to:

American Embassy
Immigrant  Visa Section  
Vasilsisis Sophias Ave
101 60 Athens, Greece

Note: Do not send in any other documents until requesting that you send them in.

Failure to return the DS-230 Part I promptly will delay the processing of the application.

If your petition was approved and was either submitted to USCIS in the U.S. or to Frankfurt but your visa class has numerical limitations, then your case has been automatically forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC). 

Once the NVC has received your petition, you will be contacted by mail and requested to send in the following document:

• DS-3032 (PDF 31.4KB) 

The DS-3032 may be used by the visa applicant to choose an "agent" to assist him or her in his/her application and to receive mailings from the NVC. The "agent" may be the one who filed the immigrant visa petition, an attorney, friend or non-governmental or community-based organization. He or she cannot sign documents for the visa applicant but can assist with fee payments and document collection. If the DS-3032 is not returned within one year, the NVC will begin terminating the case.
There is no requirement that you nominate an agent. The NVC may send all correspondence directly to you if you wish so. You should complete the relevant section of the DS-3032 and return the form directly to the NVC.

A DS-3032 (PDF 31.4 KB) is not required if:
 
• a G-28 is received from USCIS indicating that an attorney is the agent;
• the visa applicant filed the petition on his or her behalf;
• a child is being adopted.

Note: Do not send in any other documents until you are requested to do so.
 
K-Visa Applicant

If you are applying for a K-Visa, the following documents are required to be filled out and immediately sent in.

1) Immediately fill out and mail in:

• DS-230 (PDF 175.4 KB)
• DS-156 (PDF 103.1 KB - in duplicate)
• DS-156K (PDF 291.8 KB) - do not sign form; you are required to sign it before a consular officer on the day of your interview)
• DS-157 (PDF 278.1 KB) - for all male applicants between the ages of 16-45)

2) Follow the checklist instructions, collect the documents listed and mail in the signed "Applicant Statement" when all documents are collected:

• K-Visa IV Document Checklist and Applicant Statement

Failure to return these documents promptly will delay the processing of the application.
 
Next Step:
After you have followed the instructions above and returned the requested forms (if required), the next step is to gather all required documentation.