Immigrant Visa Issuance in Amsterdam

This page is intended for those who are or will be applying for their immigrant visa at the American Consulate General in Amsterdam.  It explains in detail how the immigrant visa process is completed in The Netherlands.

(Deze zelfde informatie in het Nederlands)

No matter what type of immigrant visa applicant you are, family based, employment based or lottery, at the end of the application process you will have your immigrant visa application interview at a consulate or embassy of the United States.  When applying with the American Consulate General in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, an appointment date will be given to you by either the National Visa Center (NVC) or the Consulate, for you and your applying family members, if any, to appear in person before a consular officer to formally apply for your visa.

It is important to prepare yourself carefully for this interview so here is what is required from you, and what you can expect from the Consulate General in Amsterdam.

The Medical Examination

With your appointment letter you will also receive instructions for setting up a medical examination appointment with the Consulate's panel physicians.  You are to call the doctors and make sure the examination date precedes the interview date by at least five workdays.  When you go to the doctors you must bring:

• the required forms DS-2053, DS-3024, DS-3025 and DS-3026.  The National Visa Center will make these forms available to you in due time. On these forms, where required, you must write in clear lettering (print or type) your family name, first name(s) as they appear in your passport, date and place of birth, if you are male or female and your passport number.  Also you must write your current and prior country of residence.
• Every applicant, regardless of age, must also bring two passport photos to the doctor.
• Proof you have been properly vaccinated. For information on what vaccinations are required please see the State Deparment website. If no proof is available, the panel physician can administer the required vaccinations. Note that only a panel physician can ultimately determine which vaccinations are medically appropriate.
• Every applicant, regardless of age, must pay the doctor's fee for the medical.  Children under 15 years of age on the visa interview date do not need the HIV test and Chest X-Ray photograph.
• Valid passport.
• An adult interpreter if you do not speak Dutch or English.

The doctor will ensure your medical examination results get to the Consulate in time.

The Visa Application Interview

All immigrant visa applicants in Amsterdam are to report for their interview at 1:30 pm on the appointment date.  You must bring with you:

• Your passport, which must be valid at least 8 more months after the interview date.
• Two additional passport photographs (so have four made: 2 for the doctor and two to bring to the Consulate)
• Beneficiaries of employment based petitions must bring an original, recent and notarized letter from the petitioning employer, on original company letterhead paper, confirming the position and salary of the immigrant.
• Dutch postage sufficient to send a package of up to 1 kilo by registered mail to an address provided by you, in the Netherlands.

For NVC made appointments:

• All originals of copy documents you have previously sent to NVC
• Copies of all original documents you have previously sent to NVC

For Consulate Amsterdam made appointments:

• Originals and photocopies of all required documents
• Beneficiaries of family based petitions filed in Amsterdam must bring an I-864 Affidavit of Support form, filled out and signed by the petitioner and with supporting documents attached.
• The required fee, which can be paid in dollars, the euro equivalent or by credit card. (NVC cases are paid for with NVC, before the file is shipped overseas.)

Intake of documents and initial review

Upon admission into the Consulate you will be asked by the guard to report to window 5.  Here your passport will be collected and your file will be reviewed by a consular employee.  This is also the time to ask questions you may still have.

Then the consular officer will conduct the final interview, adjudicate your application and inform you of the result.

If your visa is granted.  Prepare to be without your passport for a few days.

Most applicants, provided they have prepared their application thoroughly, will qualify to receive their visas.  This means the Consulate will retain the passport so a visa can be inserted.*  Visas are usually printed the day after the interview.  Then the Consulate will also prepare your sealed immigrant visa package.  Both the package and passport are then sent out by registered mail and will arrive within 5 working days of your interview.  It is not possible to pick up your visa.  With the package comes an information sheet that will prove very useful.  Read it carefully and retain it for future reference.

Congratulations!  You can now book your trip to go and take up residence in the United States of America, your new homeland.

* Bring other proof of identification, e.g. a driver's license as all persons over 14 must be able to identify themselves in the Netherlands, if requested by the proper authorities.

If your visa is refused.  Unpleasant but often not the end of the world.

When the consular officer has to decide the visa cannot be approved for issuance you will receive verbal and printed instructions on how to proceed.  Often the reason for refusal can be quickly eliminated.  You will be asked to call when you feel you are ready for a follow-up appointment.  The Consulate will schedule this as soon as possible but it is possible the earliest opportunity for an appointment is a few months from the initial one.