Petitions

• Certain visas, such as a fiancee or spousal visas, begin with a petition to apply. These petitions are checked by the USCIS service center serving the area in which the petitioner lives.
  
  

National Visa Center

• Additional checks on immigration files are processed by the National Visa Center. This is the final step in the United States before the application is sent to the foreign Embassy or Consulate.
  
  

Consular Level

• Additional checks on the immigration files are performed by consular officers at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
  
  

Police Checks

• Applicants for certain visas, such as fiance or spousal visas, are expected to submit a police clearance from their place of residence. These checks are performed in their district of residence.
  
  

Additional Processing

• Applications can require additional processing. This can be done to verify data or to clarify information found during the checks at any previous stage.