INSTRUCTIONS FOR IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICANTS BEFORE

INSTRUCTIONS FOR IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICANTS

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

Before coming to the Embassy for your interview, applicants should select a passport delivery address in

Turkey. If and when a visa is issued, the passports and visa packets are sent to a Turkish Postal Service

(PTT) branch in Turkey for you to pick up in person. In order to make this selection, please follow the

steps below:

1. Upon receipt of Embassy’s notification, register online at usvisa-info.com or by calling 0 850 390

2884 from Turkey or (703) 520-2490 from the United States

2. Choose “Immigrant Visa” for your visa category

3. Choose your visa pick up location (NOTE: Please make sure that you are selecting a PTT branch

close to your address in Turkey.)

4. Print your registration receipt and bring it with you on your interview date with all the other required

documents listed below.

IF YOU FAIL TO ATTEND YOUR INTERVIEW, you can request to reschedule an immigrant visa

appointment through http://usvisa-info.com. Applicants/petitioners can also call the Visa Information Service

at 0 850 390 2884 from Turkey or (703) 520-2490 from the United States to reschedule.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AT THE INTERVIEW

1. PASSPORT: Each visa applicant needs to bring a passport valid for six months beyond the intended

date of entry into the United States. Previous passport with a valid U.S. nonimmigrant visa should also

be provided, if applicable.

2. PASSPORT PICKUP LOCATION REGISTRATION RECEIPT: The registration can be done either

online via usvisa-info.com or by calling 0 850 390 2884 from Turkey or (703) 520-2490 from the United

States.

MEDICAL REPORT: Before their final immigrant visa interview, all beneficiaries are required to

undergo a medical examination performed by one of the medical doctors authorized by this Embassy. The

beneficiary is responsible for making his/her own arrangement for the medical examination with one of the

physicians listed on the attached medical information sheet. The beneficiary is also responsible for the cost

of the examination. A medical examination is also required for each accompanying child. You will be

required to submit your medical report to this office at the time of your interview. Do not bring your x-ray

film to the Embassy. For detailed information on medical examination procedures, please visit our website at

http://tr.edit.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/medical-requirements/

3. FEE: The Immigrant Visa fee is $325.00 per person. The payment may be made in cash or by credit

card to the consular cashier. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Novus/Discover and Diners cards are

acceptable. Personal checks and credit card numbers provided verbally or in writing are not accepted.

4. FORM: DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application needs to be completed before coming to the

interview. These forms are accessible on the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website.

This form does not need to be printed after online submission; the electronic version will be

accessible to the Consular Officer at the time of interview. Please print out the confirmation page

(with the barcode) of your submitted DS-260 form and bring it on your interview date. You may

review the Frequently Asked Questions on DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application on U.S.

Department of State’s web site at http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_5248.html for more

information. The case number and invoice number required on CEAC web site to login to the application

are provided to you by NVC.

5. BIRTH CERTIFICATES:

a. Birth certificates for Turkey are called “Nufus Kayit Ornegi”. Please provide an original. No

English translation is required

b. Birth certificated for Iran are called “Shenasname”. Please provide the original, certified

English translation with a copy. Please do not provide Karte Melli

c. Birth certificates for Iraq are “Hawiat Al Ahwal Al Madniya”. Please bring their originals

with English translations and copies. Iraqi applicants are also required to submit their

National ID cards, “Shahadat Al Jinsiya Al Iraqiya” with an English translation along with a

copy.

6. MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE: The original and two copies of your marriage certificate is required. If

the marriage took place in a country other than Turkey or the U.S., a certified English translation of the

foreign marriage certificate is also required.

7. DIVORCE DECREE OR DEATH CERTIFICATE: If you were married previously, bring the

original and copy of the divorce decree or death certificate to prove the dissolution of each prior marriage.

If the divorce took place in a country other than Turkey or the U.S., a certified English translation of the

foreign divorce decree is also required. For divorces that took place in the U.S. or Turkey, the court-

certified original divorce decrees must either have the raised seal or rubber stamps of the court and

original signatures. Attorney certified copies without raised seals, rubber stamps or plain photocopies of

court certified divorce decrees will not be accepted. Marriage or birth certificates on which the divorce is

registered and translations of divorce documents without the originals are not accepted in lieu of a court-

certified divorce decree.

8. MILITARY CARD: Iranian applicants need to provide original, copy and certified English

translation of military card. If you are exempt from the service please provide a copy and certified

English translation of your military service exemption card. Military card for Turkish applicants are

not required.

9. COURT AND PRISON RECORDS: Persons convicted of a crime must bring original and copy of each

court record and any prison record, even if the beneficiary has been pardoned or granted amnesty. If you

have a conviction, please provide the copy and English translation of all the law articles referred to in

your court record.

10. OTHER COURT DOCUMENTS: Originals and copies of court records regarding name changes, age

ammendments, adoption and similar subjects must also be submitted. Originals of these documents

should be submitted at the time of interview.

11. POLICE CERTIFICATE REQUIRED FOR APPLICANTS 16 YEARS AND OLDER:

Applicants are required to submit a police certificate from the country of the applicant’s nationality and

current residence. Police certificates are also required from all other countries where the applicant has

resided for at least one year. Regardless of the length of residence, a police certificate must also be

obtained from the police authorities of any place where the applicant has been arrested for any

reason. Police certificates for Turkey must include the archive records check (Arsiv kayitli Adli Sicil

Kaydi), but do not need translation. Police certificates for Iran are not required. For detailed information

on how to obtain a police certificate from a country, please visit U.S. Department of State website at

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country.html

12. EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Each beneficiary must obtain a Form I-864, Affidavit of

Support from the petitioner, with the petitioner’s original signature and supplementary forms: W-2 and

1040 Individual Income Tax returns for the last year, bank and other financial statements. If the

petitioner does not qualify to sponsor the applicant financially, a co-sponsor must also present a signed

Form I-864, supplemental financial documents, and a copy of his/her US passport or green card. If the

petitioner’s tax documents are not available, the petitioner must also submit a signed statement explaining

why he/she did not pay taxes to the U.S. Government during the last taxable year. Please see the

following pages for more information on Affidavit of Support.

13. PROOF OF DOMICILE: In order to petition for your relative to come to the United States, the

petitioner must have an un-relinquished residence in the United States. Please see the following pages

for more information on domicile.

14. PHOTOS: Regardless of age, all U.S. Immigrant Visa applicants must present two un-retouched color

photographs, approximately 2 X 2 inches (5 X 5 cm) in size, taken on a white background. Please read the

instructions on our website at http://tr.edit.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/immigrant-visa-photo-

requirements/ for information.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

After your personal application, if your file is complete, your visa will be issued and your passport and visa

packet will be given to PTT for delivery to your passport pickup location.

Some Turkish applicants and most Iranian applicants require extensive administrative processing prior to issuance

of the visa. This process can take up to 6 months or longer. No visa for these applicants can be issued until the

administrative process is complete.

If administrative processing is required, we recommend that applicants return home while they wait for

the completion of the process. Once the administrative processing is completed, the applicant’s case number

will be posted on our website. It will be your responsibility to check our website to see if your process is

completed. After the administrative processing is complete, applicants can send their passports, and other

missing documents, if any, to our office by PTT. After the final review, if your application is complete, your

passport and visa packet will be sent to the PTT branch of your choice in Turkey within five to ten working

days after we receive your passport.

While waiting for the administrative process to be complete, your medical examination may expire. In that case,

you will need to renew the medical examination.

The validity of your immigrant visa will be limited with the validity of your medical report. An immigrant

visa is valid for a maximum of six months from the date of issuance. Applicants must travel and apply for

admission to the United States before their immigrant visas expire.

MOST IMPORTANT

No assurance can be given in advance that a visa will be issued. A consular officer can make a decision

only after the formal application and all documents are reviewed, and that officer has personally

interviewed the applicants.

Beneficiaries should not make any travel arrangements for departure, dispose of personal property or

make other life changes until the visa has been issued.

This office will make every effort to expedite the process. However should complications arise,

applicants may be required to return to this office or furnish additional information.

AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT – FORM I-864

Overview

The I-864 Affidavit of Support is a contract between a sponsor and the applicant that is required for some

immigrant visas. In this contract the sponsor agrees to provide financial support for the applicant until

he/she becomes an American citizen or can be credited with 40 quarters of work (usually ten years).

The sponsor must show that he/she has income equal to or greater than 125 percent of the federal

poverty guidelines for his/her household size. The I-864P form lists the required income for different

household sizes.

If a sponsor’s income is not greater than 125% of the federal poverty guideline, then another person must

offer to sponsor the beneficiary. This co-sponsor must fill out a separate I-864, unless the co-sponsor is a

member of the sponsor’s household (i.e., the co-sponsor claims the original sponsor as a dependent on his or

her tax forms).

While photocopies of supporting documents are accepted, only original I-864 forms with sponsors’

signatures are acceptable.

US citizens filing I-130 petitions on behalf of their biological children under the age of 18 should complete

the form I-864W instead of an I-864 form. Such petitioners are not required to submit supporting documents

such as tax returns in addition to their I-864W form. Please note that this rule does not apply for US citizens

filing petitions on behalf of their minor step-children. Such petitioners should complete the I-864 form and

submit it along with the supporting documents.

Requirements for the Sponsor

A sponsor must be at least 18 years old and either an American citizen or a lawful permanent resident

(LPR). The sponsor must also have a domicile (residence) in the United States.

Supporting Documents

A sponsor must attach to the affidavit his or her 1040 tax returns and W-2 forms for the most recent taxable

year. If the sponsor claims additional assets on the I-864, he or she must attach proof of those assets as well.

NOTE: A sponsor’s primary residence and/or car cannot count toward “proof of assets” since a sponsor

would not be expected to sell his or her home to sponsor an immigrant.

Consular officers can only accept individual tax returns, not business tax returns, since the individual is

sponsoring the applicant, not a business. If the sponsor does not have copies of his/her tax returns, he/she can

submit a summary of the returns from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

If a sponsor files taxes jointly with his or her spouse, then the spouse must fill out form I-864A (Contract

Between Sponsor and Household Member), which is attached to form I-864.

Sponsors must attach tax returns for the most recent tax year to their affidavit of support. If a sponsor did not

file taxes in the most recent tax year, they must attach a statement explaining why they did not file taxes.

Accompanying family members

Each accompanying family member must have either an original or photocopy of the I-864 Affidavit of

Support (and I-864A if needed). Copies may be used only for dependents whose names appear on the

principal applicant's original petition. Copies of supporting documents are not required for

accompanying family members applying for visas together with the principal applicant.

Family members who travel later (follow-to-join) will require one complete set of the documents

prepared in support of the principal applicant's I-864. Each individual applicant must present an I-864

Affidavit of Support with original signatures.

If family members have separate visa petitions, each family member must submit a signed I-864 from

the petitioner/sponsor, the joint sponsor (if required) and I-864A as required. Each family member must

also submit a complete set of supporting documents (such as tax returns, job letters and bank

statements).

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is household size?

Household size is determined by the number of people claimed on a sponsor’s tax returns, the number of

people otherwise dependent on him or her, other people a sponsor has filed an Affidavit of Support for, plus

the beneficiaries of the petition. For example, if a sponsor who files taxes jointly with his wife and claims

two children as dependents is sponsoring one person to immigrate to the United States, his household size is

five (himself, his wife, 2 children, and beneficiary). If an unmarried sponsor claims her mother as a

dependent on her tax returns, has filed an Affidavit for one other individual, and is sponsoring a family of

three to immigrate, her household size is six (herself, mother, other beneficiary, and the family of three).

What if I did not file income tax returns in the previous year?

Immigration law requires the sponsor to submit income tax returns for the last income tax year immediately

before the I-864 is signed if the sponsor was required to file. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires

Americans and lawful permanent residents who are working abroad to file income tax returns even if most or

all of their overseas income is excluded from U.S. taxes.

If a sponsor was not required by law to file an income tax return, he/she should prepare a statement affirming

that he/she was not required to file a tax return and give the related Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

regulation. The IRS 1040 Instruction Book has information on who is not required to file income tax returns.

More information on the I-864: Visit the Department of State web site at

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3178.html for detailed information about the I-864

Affidavit of Support.

For most current poverty guidelines, please click on http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864p.pdf.

Domicile

Petitioners and sponsors for family-based immigrant visas are required to be domiciled (live) in any of the

States of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any territory or possession of the United States.

Can a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) petitioner who is not domiciled (residing) in the

United States be a sponsor?

No. The law requires a sponsor who is 1) a citizen/ national or a LPR of the United States; 2) at least 18

years of age; 3) domiciled in the United States; 4) the petitioner, and 5) meets certain income requirements.

To be domiciled in the United States a sponsor must live or reside in any of the States of the United States,

the District of Columbia, or any territory or possession of the United States.

If the petitioner does not have a domicile in the United States, can a joint sponsor file an I-864?

No. Under the law, a joint sponsor cannot sponsor an immigrant when the petitioner does not have a domicile

in the United States. The petitioner must first meet all the requirements for being a sponsor, except those

related to income, before there can be a joint sponsor.

How is domicile determined?

Domicile is a complex issue and must be determined on a case by case basis. To qualify as a sponsor, a

petitioner who is residing abroad must have a principal residence in the United States and intend to maintain

that residence for the foreseeable future. Lawful permanent resident (LPR) sponsors must show they are

maintaining their LPR status.

Many U.S. citizens and LPRs reside outside the United States on a temporary basis, usually for work or

family considerations. "Temporary" may cover an extended period of residence abroad. The sponsor living

abroad must establish the following in order to be considered domiciled in the United States:

 He/she left the United States for a limited and not indefinite period of time;

 He/she intended to maintain a domicile in the United States; and

 He/she has evidence of continued ties to the United States.

An American citizen or LPR spouse or dependent who has maintained a residence in the United States and/or

whose spouse/parent works in one of the categories listed below would also qualify as a sponsor.

Individuals living abroad temporarily due to their employment may be considered domiciled in the United

States. What kind of employment abroad can be counted as U.S. domicile?

 Employment by the U.S. government;

 Employment by an American institution of research recognized by the Attorney General;

 Employment by an American firm or corporation engaged in whole or in part in the development of

foreign trade and commerce with the United States, or a subsidiary of such a firm;

 Employment with a public international organization in which the United States participates by treaty

or statute;

 Employment by a religious denomination/group having a genuine organization within the United

States and is stationed abroad with that religious denomination; or

 Employment as a missionary by a religious denomination/group or by an interdenominational

mission organization within the United States and is stationed abroad with that religious

denomination.

There may be other circumstances in which a sponsor can show that his or her presence abroad is of a

temporary nature, and the sponsor has a domicile in the United States. The sponsor must satisfy the consular

officer that he/she has not given up his/her domicile in the United States and established his/her domicile

abroad.

How can a petitioner establish a domicile in the United States?

When a sponsor has clearly not maintained a domicile in the United States, he/she will need to re-

establish a U.S. domicile in order to qualify as a sponsor. The sponsor may take a number of steps to

show that he/she is establishing his/her principal residence in the United States. Some examples of steps

one can take to establish domicile include:

 Finding a job in the United States;

 Locating a place to live in the United States;

 Registering children in U.S. schools;

 Making arrangements to give up (relinquish) residence abroad; or

 Providing other evidence of a U.S. residence.

If the sponsor establishes U.S. domicile, it is not necessary for the sponsor to go to the United States

before the sponsored family members. However, the sponsored immigrant may not enter the United

States before the sponsor returns to the United States to live. The sponsored immigrant must travel either

with the sponsor or after the sponsor has returned to the United States.

Some documents which may establish proof of domicile are listed below:

 Checking account statements showing daily activity in the USA over an extended period of time.

 Doctors, medical, and/or pharmacy bills covering an extended period of time.

 A lease agreement or utility bills in the petitioner’s name.

 Voter registration cards (U.S. citizens only)

 Advance parole and/or re-entry permit (Legal Permanent Residents only).