Ask the Consul

March 2008

Q: My father's sister needs back surgery, and I want to help her get it done in the U.S. What do I need to do?

America has one of the best health care systems in the world, but also one of the most expensive. In order to receive a visa for medical travel, your aunt should be ready to present at her interview 1) a letter from a local doctor describing her condition and recommending the course of treatment she will receive in the United States, 2) a letter from the treating physician in the United States with information on the type and length of the treatment, its expected costs, and when the patient is expected to arrive, and 3) financial documents showing your aunt's, your or another sponsor's financial ability to pay for the desired treatment.

In addition to these documents, your aunt will have to satisfy all other requirements for a non-immigrant visa, namely, that she has strong social, economic, or family ties to a home outside the United States. You can download and print a copy of the requirements for medical travel in the Visas section of this website.

Q: My friend from elementary school, who is now a U.S. citizen, has invited me to visit and will pay for all my expenses. Where should he send his letter of invitation?

Many applicants want to send the Consular Section letters of invitation from friends or family in the United States prior to their interview. Unfortunately, the Consular Section does not have the capacity to match incoming letters or documents with potential applicants. Applicants themselves should bring any supporting documents with them on the day of their interview. It's also important to note that letters of invitation are wholly optional. In other words, a letter of invitation is not required to apply nor to qualify for a visa. The only required documents for a tourist visa interview are the application form, your passport, and your application fee receipt.

Family and friends in America also often want to provide a written guarantee that their friend will return to Armenia after a short stay. U.S. law does not provide for any third party guarantee, and so the responsibility falls on the applicants to demonstrate the strong local ties which will compel their return to a home outside the U.S. after a short stay.

Q: I want to move to the United States, but don't know how. One of my co-workers went on a green card last year. How can I get one?

America is a country of immigrants, and prides itself on the successes of its citizens from diverse backgrounds. There are three ways to immigrate lawfully to the United States: through a family-based petition, through a work-based petition, and through the Diversity Visa lottery.

If you have a parent, child, or spouse in the United States who is a U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent resident, they can file a family-based petition for you to join them. If you have a sibling in the United States who is a U.S. citizen, they may also petition for you to join them. An applicant's wait time for final processing of an immigrant visa varies by the relationship and the petitioner's status. If you are interested in current wait times, see "Visa Bulletins" on the State Department's website at http://www.travel.state.gov/visa. Family-based petitions are handled by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS). Your family member in the United States can find out more information on family-based petitions by viewing USCIS's fact sheets here.

A U.S. employer may also file an employment-based petition on your behalf if you have found a job in the United States for which you are uniquely qualified. Information for employers is available at the USCIS website here.

The third way to immigrate to the United States is through the Diversity Visa Lottery Program. The Diversity Visa Lottery Program makes available worldwide 50,000 permanent resident visas each year to applicants from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States, including Armenia. Lottery winners are chosen randomly (via a lottery) from among all entries and must meet strict eligibility and education requirements to receive an immigrant visa. There is no charge to download, complete and submit the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form. More information on this program is available at our website: http://armenia.usembassy.gov/diversity_visa.html. More than one-thousand Armenians won the chance to apply for an immigrant visa in the 2008 Diversity Visa Lottery Program.