Immigration Law
Tel: (520) 512-5432
Email: inquiry@messinglawoffices.com
Fax: (866) 641-2090

A visa is an authorization for an alien to enter and stay in the United States which is affixed to the foreign passport of the alien. It is issued under the authority of the Department of State, usually at a consulate or embassy located in a foreign country, which is typically the country of residency or citizenship of the alien. If the purpose of the entry is to establish permanent residency, then the visa is an immigrant visa. If the purpose is a temporary stay in the United States, then the visa is a non-immigrant visa.

The images on this page represent immigrant visas. The first is a type of immigrant visa that first was issued in 2003. When a person enters the US on such an immigrant visa, the visa itself is stamped with an ADIT stamp. This endorsement acts as immediate but temporary proof of permanent residency for a year, pending receipt of a more permanent resident card, and is valid for employment authorization. (Upon receipt of the permanent resident card card, any form I-9 issued initially on the basis of the immigrant visa must be reverified.) Later versions have the ADIT stamp printed into the visa as a security protection. The first image immediately below is of the more recent type of ADIT stamp. Below it is the earlier version. The large yellow arrows show where the ADIT stamp is located on the two versions. There is another type of stamp that local USCIS offices sometimes will agree to put in a foreign passport as temporary proof of permanent residency pending receipt of a delayed permanent resident card, but no image of the stamp is provided.

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U.S. Family, Employment, Business Immigrant Visa Attorney AZ

At Messing Law Offices, we provide high quality legal services and expertise to families, working men and women, and businesses. If you have a concern in the areas of family based immigration, business based immigration, employment based immigration, or naturalization and you are seeking the help of an experienced immigration lawyer, call Messing Law Offices for professional Arizona immigration attorney assistance.