Overview

Congratulations are in order if your application for a how to apply for an immigrant U.S. Visa from India is accepted! But the adventure is far from ended. Although obtaining an immigrant visa is an important step, it's only one step in the process of relocating to the US. Here is a thorough breakdown of what to do once your visa has been approved.

1. Pick up your sealed immigrant packet and visa.

Two necessary documents will be given to you by the U.S. consulate upon approval of your visa: your visa and a sealed immigrant packet. Your visa serves as your entry permit to the United States, enabling you to travel and apply for admission after being stamped in your passport. When you arrive at your U.S. port of entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents will need to check the documents in the sealed immigrant packet. This packet is not for you to open. Until you give it to immigration officers when you enter, it must stay sealed.

2. Pay the Immigrant Fee to the USCIS

All new immigrants must pay an immigrant fee to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in order for their Permanent Resident Card, also referred to as a "Green Card," to be processed and produced. It is advisable to pay this cost online before to your trip to the United States. For this payment, you'll need the information from your visa as well as the A-number that USCIS gave you. Please be aware that not paying this charge could cause your Green Card to be issued later than expected.

3. Arrange for Your Arrival in the US

Following the issue of your visa, you must enter the United States within the six months that it is valid. To prevent any problems or delays, it is advisable to plan your trip well in advance. When making your travel arrangements, take into account things like your initial lodging, your method of accessing your money, and any contacts you may have in the location of your arrival that will facilitate your transition.

4. U.S. Entry Point into the United States of America

You will pass through immigration and customs at your port of entry when you arrive in the United States. Show the CBP officer your passport, the sealed immigrant packet, and the visa. The officer may interrogate you about your immigration journey after looking over your documents. They will stamp your visa with an endorsement granting you lawful permanent residency after they have finished this procedure. Until your Green Card arrives, this stamp acts as interim documentation of your status.

5. Get Your Green Card

USCIS will start the Green Card processing procedure as soon as you arrive in the how to apply for an immigrant U.S. Visa from India and pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee. Within a few weeks to a few months, your Green Card should arrive at the U.S. address you gave when you applied for your visa. You can monitor the status on the USCIS website if it takes longer. Since it attests to your legal status as a permanent resident, the Green Card is a crucial document.

6. Submit a Social Security Number (SSN) application

Usually, when you applied for a visa, you already asked for your Social Security number. Otherwise, you will have to apply for one at a U.S. Social Security office. Because it is necessary for employment, bank account creation, and several other official procedures in the United States, the Social Security number is essential. Soon after submitting your application, you should receive your Social Security card in the mail.

7. Get to Know Your Life as a Long-Term Inhabitant

Knowing your rights and obligations is crucial now that you are a permanent resident of the United States. Learn the fundamentals of U.S. law, including as residency requirements, taxes requirements, and how to keep your status as a permanent resident. Furthermore, you are required to renew your Green Card every ten years as a Green Card holder.

8. Examine the Next Naturalization Steps

Keep in mind that the normal waiting period for naturalization is five years of continuous residency if you intend to become a citizen of the United States. If you decide to pursue naturalization in the future, keeping documentation of your stay in the country will be helpful.

Concluding 

Although getting your how to apply for an immigrant U.S. Visa from India is a significant accomplishment, there are still a few important things to do. A seamless transition into life as a permanent resident of the United States can be ensured by carefully following these steps. If you need more help at this exciting time, don't forget that USCIS, legal counsel, and immigrant support groups have a wealth of services available.