Consular Processing Services We Provide


For beneficiaries residing overseas, consular processing is the final step for their applications for permanent residency. At this point in the immigration process, the majority of paperwork-related issues have been ironed out, and the remaining task to complete is the in-person consular interview. In case it was not already self-evident, let us state it clearly:

BENEFICIARIES MUST PREPARE FOR THEIR CONSULAR INTERVIEWS.

Why, exactly, is thorough preparation necessary? To put it concisely, there are multiple facets of an applicant’s background to consider, including potential concerns regarding fraud, security, and past travel history. Depending on the type of petition, it is worthwhile to spend time re-familiarizing oneself with one’s employment history, employment documentation, job responsibilities, family relationships, or details about how one met and the extent to which one knows a petitioning loved one. Such issues and particular aspects of an application will arise during the in-person interview, and an applicant is generally not entitled to have counsel present during the session.

But that does not mean an attorney cannot help out before the consular appointment. Since each interview will generate a record that could affect future applications of both the beneficiary and the petitioner, we emphatically recommended you seek the assistance of an experienced attorney.

Our Services

After you retain us for your consular processing case, our seasoned attorneys will facilitate your application for an immigrant visa abroad by taking the following steps:

  • Exhaustively review your situation and identify any legal issues that may be important in your case
  • Work with you regarding the issues identified and provide the proper solutions or legal opinions
  • Collect all of the information and documents required for your application
  • Fill out all forms and prepare supporting documentation for you
  • Submit your application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and make status inquiries on your pending case when necessary
  • Respond in a thorough and timely manner to any USCIS or National Visa Center (NVC) requests or questions about your case
  • Inform you of the status of your pending case at each stage, such as the interview notice
  • Thoroughly prepare you for the consular processing interview

Attorney’s Fees and Application Fees

Costs associated with applying for an immigrant visa through consular processing are twofold. First, there are filing or application fees, which are set by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or U.S. Department of State (DOS) for administrative and processing expenses. Should you choose to retain an experienced immigration attorney, you will also be responsible for attorney’s fees, which are the costs you incur for professional services rendered on your behalf.

Filing fees are generally more standard than are attorney’s fees, though they are also subject to change. This is because the cost of an attorney handling your case depends on the expertise and experience of the attorney, on the one hand, and the nature of your specific case, on the other. Fees range in price as a function of the complexity of issues or length of process time and work involved. During a free consultation on your potential case with an experienced attorney at Zhang & Associates, you will be provided a quote on the attorney’s fees for your individual case.

For the full list of consular processing fees, refer to DOS’s webpage here.

Our Firm is Here to Help

Applying for an immigrant visa through consular processing can be a complex process for most to handle on their own. This is why we recommend you seek the advice of an experienced immigration attorney about your situation. At Zhang & Associates, our attorneys have decades of experience successfully facilitating consular processing for our foreign-based clients. One of our associates, Sechyi Laiu, spent several years as a consular officer at multiple U.S. diplomatic posts worldwide. Click here to contact our firm for a free consultation today.

For official news and updates on consular processing, click here.

For more detailed information on consular processing, refer to the following links:

Updated 07/31/2017