An immigrant visa is the same thing as a green card.  A green card allows a person to live and work in the U.S. on a permanent basis with conditions.  Before a person decides to obtain an immigrant visa, he/she needs to know which type he/she is eligible for.  There are several different types of immigrant visas, including:  investors, spousal visas, employment-based visas, family-based visas, and fiancé visas.  Once a person knows which type of visa he/she is eligible for, he/she may proceed with his/her visa application.      Immigrant Visa Application U.S. immigrants are divided into 2 separate categories.  The first category is comprised of individuals who can acquire permanent residency without numerical limitation.  “Immediate Relatives”, such as spouses, unmarried children, and parents of U.S. Citizens, do not need to wait for an immigrant visa number to obtain an immigrant visa because the number is immediately assigned to them.  The second category is comprised of individuals who are subject to a yearly limitation.  This category has 4 areas:  investors, family-based, employment based, and diversity immigrants.  People who fall into a preference category need to wait for an immigrant visa number before they obtain their immigrant visa.  This is a process that can take several years, as only a certain amount of numbers are available every year.  A person does not have to apply for a visa number.  Once his/her sponsor or employer files the Visa Petition, and the petition is approved, it will automatically be sent to the Department of State’s National Visa Center, where it will remain on hold until a visa number is assigned.  After the person is notified that a visa is available, he/she must apply with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate overseas to obtain his/her immigrant visa.  If the person is lawfully in the United States or meets an exception to the general rule, then he/she can apply for adjustment of status in the United States.   Las Vegas Immigration & Naturalization Attorney Applying for a visa can be time consuming, and minor mistakes can create great set backs.  For this reason, it is always beneficial for a person to speak with an experienced Immigration Attorney before he/she applies for an immigrant visa.  If you are considering applying for a non-immigrant visa, or if you have questions related to non-immigrant visas, contact the Las Vegas Law Offices of Robert West.  At the Law Offices of Robert West, we have handled various non-immigrant visa matters for clients in Las Vegas and surrounding areas.  The Law Offices of Robert West provides a wide array of immigration services for individuals and businesses.    Contact our Las Vegas Law Office about your Immigration matter!   DISCLAIMER - Using this website does not create an attorney client relationship between you and our firm or any individual attorney. None of the materials available at this site constitute legal advice. This site has been designed to provide you with general information regarding our firm, our attorneys, and the types of services we provide. If you need legal advice, or desire to establish an attorney client relationship with any of the firm's attorneys, please contact us. Designed by Scorpion Design