USCIS Status: “Immigrant Visa Was Issued”
The immigrant visa has been issued, and you can now use it to travel to the United States
What does this status mean?
The 'Immigrant Visa Was Issued' status is triggered when the U.S. Department of State has issued your immigrant visa after USCIS has approved your application, and you can now use it to travel to the United States, at which point you will become a lawful permanent resident, next steps include understanding the validity of the visa and preparing for departure, and upon arrival, you will be inspected by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer and receive further instructions on obtaining your Green Card
What should you do next?
- 1Log into my.uscis.gov and check your case status using receipt number
- 2Review the validity of your visa and plan your travel to the United States
- 3After arriving in the United States, follow the instructions provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer to obtain your Green Card, which typically involves applying for a Green Card through the appropriate USCIS form before traveling to the U.S.
Typical timeline
Varies by type of visa and U.S. embassy or consulate, but typically 2-3 weeks for Green Card production after approval
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean when my status says 'Immigrant Visa Was Issued'
It means that your immigrant visa has been issued, and you can now use it to travel to the United States, at which point you will become a lawful permanent resident, for more information, call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283
How long is my immigrant visa valid
The validity of your immigrant visa will be indicated on the visa itself, and you should plan your travel to the United States accordingly, typically within 6 months of issuance
What happens when I arrive in the United States with my immigrant visa
You will be inspected by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, and after inspection, you will receive further instructions on obtaining your Green Card, which typically involves applying for a Green Card through the appropriate USCIS form before traveling to the U.S.
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Set up free alert →Last updated: 2026-06-28