Immigrant Visas
General Information
The Immigrant Visa Unit processes applications for persons who are entitled to live and work permanently in the United States.
In general, there are three avenues for immigrating to the United States: Family-Sponsored, Employment-Based, and the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (also known as the "green card" lottery). For detailed information regarding all categories of Immigrant Visas, please consult the Bureau of Consular Affairs (http://www.travel.state.gov/) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (http://www.uscis.gov/) websites.
Lost and Stolen Green Cards
If your alien resident card ("green card") has been lost or stolen, you will need to contact the Immigrant Visa Unit by e-mail: helsinkiIV@state.gov for an appointment. For the scheduled appointment please bring the following:
- A valid passport (if your passport has also been lost/stolen, you must obtain a new passport or other travel document before seeing us);
- 2 recent full face photographs where the applicant is facing the camera directly, size of 5cm x 5cm, color or black and white, and with white background;
- Original police report filed in connection with your loss;
- Credible evidence of your alien resident status;
- Airline ticket (evidence of travel from and back to the U.S.);
- $165 nonrefundable Transportation Letter application fee; this fee will not be refunded in the event that the consular officer determines you are ineligible for the Transportation Letter.
Processing time
We will process your case as quickly as we can. However, because of the need to obtain clearances, we cannot guarantee same-day processing. We will contact you at a Finnish telephone number when the Transportation Letter is ready for pickup (we do not make long distance calls outside Finland).
How to contact us
Inquiries regarding immigrant visas can be sent via letter, fax (+358-9-616 25800) or e-mail (helsinkiIV@state.gov) to the Immigrant Visa Unit.
