IR2 Visa For Nigerians

Need Advice on the IR2 Visa?

If you want to ensure that your child’s rights to live and work in the United States are protected do not hesitate to reach out to us. We have assisted many Nigerians with their visa applications, so get in touch with us for professional advice and support from our team of immigration experts. Here at IAS, we’ll guide you through the process with the best-tailored legal advice to suit your unique situation.

Nigerian Emigration

For Nigerian emigration matters, please call +44 (0) 3316300929 or +2342013438882

Other Immigration and Emigration Matters

For immigration/emigration to/from other countries, please call:

US –  +1 844 290 6312

Ireland –  (+353) 061 518 025

UK –  (+44) 333 4149244

IR2 Visa Overview

An IR2 Green Card Category Visa allows the children of U.S. citizens living abroad in countries such as Nigeria the right to work and study in the U.S. without needing to go through the complete process of becoming a U.S. citizen. An IR2 Visa can be useful for those looking to:

• Spend a few years living with family in the U.S
• Study at a U.S. educational institution
• Gain experience of working in the U.S
• Move permanently to the U.S

However, the IR2 Visa does come with some limitations and by far the most significant of those limitations is eligibility.

IR2 Visa Eligibility

In order to be eligible for an IR2 visa a person must be:

• Below the age of 21
• The child of a U.S. citizen (natural born or adopted)
• Unmarried

Furthermore, if the person applying is the step-child of a U.S. citizen then they must have been below the age of 18 at the time of their parents’ marriage. In cases of adoption, the same rule applies, but the child must also have been with the parents for at least two years.

Required Documents For An IR2 Visa Application

In order to complete an IR2 Visa Application from Nigeria you’ll first need to acquire a set of documents. These documents should include:

• An approved I-130 petition
• A printed DS-260 confirmation number and page
• A passport with validity extending over six years beyond the planned entry date
• Two passport photographs for the adult and another two for the child
• Proof of medical examination and vaccination
• Any relevant court, criminal, or military records

All documents provided should either be English or should be accompanied by certified English translations.

In fact, most of the process of your IR2 application will involve applying for and acquiring these documents; a process we’ll cover in detail in the next section. While lengthy, this process is very important as you’ll need these documents to meet the IR2 Visa interview requirements.

Our team at IAS have extensive experience in helping people to track down the correct information in order to fill out their documents clearly and accurately. To learn more about how IAS could guide you through your application process, contact us today on +44 (0) 3316300929 or +2342013438882.

How To Apply For An IR2 Visa

Overview

To begin your IR2 application, you’ll have to start by filling out an I-130 petition. This is a form petitioning the USCIS (United States Citizenship Immigration Services) on behalf of a relative in order to claim you have a relationship that allows them to migrate to the United States from Nigeria. Once the USCIS receives your application along with a filing fee they will perform a background check.

Establishing the Parent/Child Relationship

In large part, the I-130 form is devoted to proving that you do, in fact, have the relationship you’re claiming with the relative in question. In this case you must prove a parental relationship either on the grounds of legal adoption, biological parenthood, or through being a step-parent.

For the most part, providing this information should be relatively straightforward. You’ll be asked for many details including your marital history and biographic information (physical traits such as hair colour and ethnicity).

If your petition is successful then it will proceed to the National Visa Centre (NVC) who will send you and your child a set of information and instructions for what to do next. Should your petition be denied, you’ll receive a full explanation as to the reason for denial.

Potential Grounds For Visa Denial

Assuming they meet the necessary eligibility criteria to begin with, most applications are approved, however your application can be rejected for any of the following reasons:

• Legal ineligibility/inadmissibility – if a background check demonstrates that parents are not qualified to take care of the child then this can be a cause for disqualification
• The information in your documents is false – it’s very important to ensure that you’re providing entirely accurate information
• You have failed to provide enough supporting evidence/documentation for your claim

Worried that a mistake in your paperwork could lead to a rejection? Here at IAS, we work with hundreds of applicants to ensure that their visa applications are clear and accurate. Contact us today at +44 (0) 3316300929 or +2342013438882 for the best advice on how to ensure information is correct and up to date.

Applying For A Green Card

Once you’ve completed your I-130 application, you’ll then need to submit a DS-260. A DS-260 (also referred to as an Immigrant Visa Electronic Application) is the standard Immigrant Application Visa form that all immigrants are required to submit. Before applying, you’ll need your NVC case number and approved I-130 form.

The DS-260 will concern your child personally, so they will need to complete the application themselves. They’ll have to answer questions about their background and personal details, and they’ll have to provide a reason for immigrating to the U.S.

You’ll be able to complete the form online and it must be completed in English. When you’re done you’ll be presented with a confirmation page and number, both of which will need to be printed for the visa interview.

Medical Examination and Vaccination

At this stage of the application process, you should have acquired all the necessary documents for your application process with the exception of your medical examination and vaccination proof. On acquiring your NVC information and instructions, you should be provided with details as to the specific vaccinations/examinations your child will have to have undergone before being allowed to enter the U.S.

Any outstanding vaccinations/examinations must then be completed by a licensed doctor who must then provide a medical certificate along with any other documents requested by the NVC.

Attending The IR2 Visa Interview

Once you’ve completed all the necessary documents, the NVC will schedule your visa interview. Assuming you’ve brought said documents with you, the IR2 Visa interview requirements themselves are relatively straightforward. Remember to ensure that all your information is completely accurate as inaccurate or unclear information could still lead to delays and rejections.

Answering The IR2 Visa Interview Questions

When you attend the interview, the applicant (in this case your child) has permission to bring you in with them. The IR2 Visa interview questions will consist of some very simple queries about the visa and the child’s reason for travelling. Assuming that all goes well, your child will receive their visa application packet.

It’s very important that you do not open this packet. Only the inspection officials are allowed to open this packet. They must receive it in a sealed condition in order to approve your child’s entry to the country.

The embassy will also stamp your child’s passport as further evidence that this step has successfully been completed.

How Much Does it Cost to Apply for an IR2 Visa?

The IR2 application fees are as follows:

IR2 Visa Processing Time

As a general rule, an IR2 Immigrant Visa can take anywhere between 3 and 12 months to process. While it is almost always advisable to make any travel plans based on conservative time estimates, the IR2 Visa processing time does tend to be shorter than the processing time for family preference visas as there is no annual cap on those who can obtain one.

IR2 Visa Bulletin

Once you’ve completed your IR2 Visa application, you can also track your petition on the IR2 Visa Bulletin. The IR2 Visa Bulletin is a document published monthly by the U.S. Department of State, detailing all the important, publicly available information about that month’s visa applications.

The IR2 Visa Bulletin can be challenging to navigate. For more advice on how to use this information to track your application, contact IAS today at +44 (0) 3316300929 or +2342013438882.

Expediting The IR2 Visa Processing Time

It is sometimes possible to expedite the IR2 Visa processing time under specific emergency circumstances. These can include:

• A life or death medical emergency
• The applicant has experienced serious trauma (usually the result of an assault/crime)
• The applicant will be giving birth soon
• Necessity relating to humanitarian reasons
• The child will pass the crucial 21 year age limit if their visa is not processed in time
• Financial necessity

If one of those reasons applies then you must submit an Expedite Request to the NVC. The letter will require evidence of your reasons (such as certification from a doctor) and if granted could significantly reduce wait times.

How Can IAS Help?

We all want what’s best for our children and here at IAS we think it’s vitally important that your child gets all the opportunities they deserve. While the application process can be both lengthy and expensive, it’s nonetheless important to keep a clear focus on your goals, and to ensure that every step of the process is completed with careful and precise diligence. After all, rejections can not only be expensive, but in some cases they can be difficult, or even impossible to appeal.

If you’re a U.S. citizen living in Nigeria and you want a swift, and hassle free process then we’re the people to call. We’ll maximise your chances of success while minimising stress on your end. Our legal experts have countless hours of experience helping people in just your position to successfully navigate the legalese and to build a better life. Contact us today online, or give us a call at +44 (0) 3316300929 or +2342013438882 to get started with your application process.