Immigrant Visa Processing in Ashgabat

In order to qualify for an immigrant visa, you must be the beneficiary of a petition filed by a U.S. citizen relative or an employer. For information about different types of immigrant visas click here.

The Immigrant Visa Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat processes immigrant visas only for residents of Turkmenistan.

General Steps For Immigrant Visa Processing
  1. An immigrant visa petition is filed by a U.S. citizen or employer through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
  2. After the petition is approved, it is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for document collection. When the file is complete, NVC forwards the case to the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat and schedules a date for the visa interview.
  3. Applicants attend their interview on the scheduled day and time. If the visa is approved, applicants return the following business day to pick up their visas.
  4. In some cases, the applicant will be asked to provide additional information. The consular officer will provide the applicant written instructions of what is needed to complete the application.

Please see the following link for information about different types of immigrant visas: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate.html

Immigrant Visa Interviews in Ashgabat

The Consular Section conducts immigrant visa interviews once a week on Wednesdays (excepting American Federal and Turkmen holidays). All interview appointments are scheduled by the National Visa Center. The Embassy does not contact immigrant visa applicants in advance of their interview. Applicants who have already have appointments scheduled by NVC may contact the Embassy for additional information by emailing ConsularAshgab@state.gov.

Important information Regarding the USCIS Immigrant Fee

Effective February 1, 2013, all individuals issued immigrant visas overseas must pay a $165.00 USCIS Immigrant Fee before traveling to the United States. Only prospective adoptive parents whose child(ren) is/are entering the United States under either the Orphan or Hague Process, Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants who were employed by the U.S. government, returning residents, and those issued K visas are exempt from the new fee. The USCIS website has more details on the new fee, including contact information for USCIS: www.USCIS.gov/immigrantfee