Convention procedures "front-load" the immigrant visa petition and application processes.

If it is longer than one year from the date of visa issuance, a separate visa petition is required.

A constituent filed an immigrant visa petition for his wife, who was overseas.

The immigration service, the lawmakers said, knew all along what the investors were doing and never raised an eyebrow when the Government approved the visa petitions.

But hundreds of other applicants in the pipeline will have to refile their visa petitions under new guidelines being developed.

Both fiancées must have met in person at least once within two years prior to filing the visa petition.

These physicians and doctors can file immigrant visa petitions for themselves without first applying for a labor certification.

Caps on immigration do not apply and it is not necessary that the applicant use a family-based or employment-based immigrant visa petition.

It also provides employers with an option to expedite processing of such visa petitions.

From 1 January 2012, the centre stopped processing immigrant visa petitions.