Please follow the steps below before your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Busnos Aries, Argentina.

Step 1: Register your appointment online

You need to register your appointment online. Registering your appointment provides us with the information we need to return your passport to you after your interview. Registration is free. Click the “Register” link below to register.

If you want to cancel or reschedule your appointment, you will be able to do so after you register your appointment.

Register

Step 2: Schedule a medical exam in Buenos Aires

As soon as you receive your appointment date, you must schedule a medical exam in Buenos Aires. Click the “Medical Exam Instructions” button below for a list of designated doctors’ offices in Buenos Aires. Please schedule and attend a medical exam with one of these doctors before your interview.

Medical Exam Instructions >>

Step 3: Complete your pre-interview checklist

It is important that you bring all required original documents to your interview. We’ve created a checklist that will tell you what to bring. Please print the checklist below and bring it to your interview along with the listed documents.

Pre-Interview Checklist >>

Step 4: Review interview guidelines

Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before your visa interview.

Interview Guidelines >>

Medical Exam Instructions

All immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination prior to the issuance of a visa. Only a physician accredited by the U.S. Embassy can perform this exam. It is your responsibility to schedule a medical exam with an embassy-approved doctor before your visa interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy. Medical examination results from other physicians will not be accepted.

During the medical exam

You will need three (3) appointments to complete the medical exam process, so please contact one of our approved doctors right away. The full examination includes a medical history review, physical examination, and depending on the age, a chest X-ray, gonorrhea test, and blood tests. Tuberculosis (TB) testing is required for all applicants two years of age and older. Be prepared to discuss your medical history, medications you are taking, and current treatments you are undergoing. Information on general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of a visa. Current vaccination requirements are on CDC's website. You can also read our Frequently Asked Questions at Travel.State.Gov.

Step 1: Schedule a medical consultation appointment

Contact one of the physicians listed below to schedule a medical consultation. These are the only physicians authorized to conduct a medical exam for the U.S. Embassy.
 

Bring the following items to your consultation appointment:

• Your visa interview letter with case number assigned by the NVC.
• Your valid passport
• The address in the United States where you will live.
• A copy of your immunization records
• DS-260 confirmation page

After your consultation, the doctor will give you orders for any required tests and missing vaccinations. You should take those orders to the approved laboratory listed in step 2 below.

Step 2: Have all medical tests conducted at an approved lab

Take the orders given to you by the approved embassy physician and visit the below approved laboratory to have medical tests completed.

SANATORIO DE LA TRINIDAD – PALERMO
Ave. Cerviño 4720, Subsuelo, Buenos Aires
Telephone: 4127-5500
Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 11:30 am

Step 3: Schedule an appointment for a physical examination

Return to the embassy-approved doctor you visited in Step 1 to have a physical medical exam completed. The doctor will review the results of your tests at this time.

After the medical exam

When your examination is completed, if you are processing a paper immigrant visa application, the doctor will provide you with exam results in a sealed envelope; however, if you are processing an electronic immigrant visa application, the doctor will upload the result of the medical examination to our Consular system directly. IF GIVEN AN ENVELOPE TO CARRY TO YOUR INTERVIEW, DO NOT OPEN THIS ENVELOPE. Instead, bring it to your visa interview.

You DO NOT need to bring the x-rays to your visa interview unless you suffer from tuberculosis (TB). However, you must carry the x-rays with you when you travel to the United States for the first time. The medical report must be less than six (6) or three (3) months old, depending on the medical condition, when you enter the United States as an immigrant.

Fees

You must pay all medical examination fees, including x-ray and blood test fees, directly to the examining physician or clinic.

Schedule of fees for the medical examination

MEDICAL EXAMINATION FEE (Dr. Kelly and Dr. Grillo): $60000 Argentine Pesos.

Blood Test VDRL (required for applicants between 18 y 44 years): U$S 5 dollars.

Chest X-Ray (required for applicants 15 years and older): $16500 Pesos.

Gonorrhea test (required for applicants between 18-24 years of age): U$S 100 dollars.

Sputum Smears and Cultures: U$S 150 dollars.

Drug Susceptibility Testing (if smears and cultures are positive): U$S 175 dollars.

TB DOT (Directly Observed Therapy): $3000 Argentine pesos per week ($72000 ARG pesos for 6 months).

IGRA Test for minors between 2- 14 years old. U$S 110 and U$S 150 dollars.

The panel physician will provide information about the labs in Rosario, Cordoba, or Buenos Aires. Please note that both panel physicians charge the same fees.

Fees are updated on a quarterly basis. Therefore, please confirm the fees with the labs and physicians when scheduling your appointment

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Pre-Interview checklist

IMPORTANT: You must present the original documents uploaded to the CEAC account at the time of your consular appointment.

Please use the list below to determine the items you must bring to the immigrant visa interview. Any documents that are neither in English nor Spanish must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

To avoid delays in processing your case please check your registered email(s) and / or CEAC account for notifications and updates from the Embassy regarding missing or correct documents to be uploaded before your interview date.

• Valid passport:  Must be valid for eight (8) months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States.
  
  
• All previous and/or expired passports.
   
• Photographs:  Two (2) color photographs of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm, or 2inch x 2 inch). Please review our online photo requirements.
  
  
• Original birth certificate.
  
  
• Original police certificates (Only applicants over 16 years old):

• Argentine police certificate instructions (186 KB).  (“Certificado de antecedentes penales con excepción al Art. 51”).
  
  
• Police certificate from each country you resided for more than one year since reaching the age of sixteen (You are not required to obtain a police certificate from the United States.).
  • Please update the police certificate if:  Obtained and submitted to NVC more than one year ago; and still reside in that country.
     
• Original or certified copies of birth certificate for all children of the principal applicant.
  
  
• If you are married:  Your original marriage entry.
  
  
• If you have ever been convicted of a crime:  Court and criminal records, along with an English translation.
  
  
• If you are the petitioner’s stepchild:  The original marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent, along with divorce records for any previous marriages of either parent.
  
  
• If you have served in any country’s military:  Original military records.
  
  
• If you were previously married:  Your original divorce decree and marriage entry with the marginal annotation stating the divorce or spouse’s death entry,
  
  
• Medical examination results: In a sealed envelope (if the physician gives you these results).
  
  
• Additional Documents Required for Specific Applicant Categories:
  
  
• Applicants who fall into any of the categories listed below should bring the following additional documents:

Family-Based Visa Applications:

• Petitioner's original birth certificate or a certified copy.

• Form I-864 Affidavit of Support: The appropriate Form I-864 for each financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or most recent U.S. federal income tax return, and any relevant W-2s.
  
  
• If you are adopted:  Adoption papers or custody documents.
  
  
• Proof of your U.S. petitioner’s status and domicile in the United States:  Photocopy of a U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or lawful permanent resident card.
  
  
• Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and visa applicant:  Such as photographs, letters, or emails.
  

Employment-Based Visa Applications:  

• Updated job offers or letter from your U.S. employer: Dated less than one month ago.
  
  
• If you visa category requires: Original proof of academic degree and/or experience in profession.

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Interview Guidelines

Sending documents to the U.S. Embassy in Argentina

Instructions for Sending Documents

If you need to send us documents, you have two options:

1. In-Person Delivery:
   • Bring the documents in a sealed envelope to the embassy entrance at Ave. Cerviño 4320.
   • Write “Immigrant Visa Unit” and the visa applicant’s name on the envelope.
2. Mail Delivery (with Authorization):
   • If you receive authorization through the appointment website, you will receive instructions on how to mail the requested documents to the Immigrant Visa Unit through a courier company.

Rescheduling or cancelling your interview.

Instructions for Rescheduling Your Appointment

If you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment, please follow these steps:

1. Visit the Rescheduling Website:
   • Go to this link.
   • Provide your full name, case number, and contact information.
2. Important Considerations:
   • There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment, so please make every effort to attend the date already assigned.
   • For some family-based and employment preference visa categories, a visa became available within the month you have been scheduled by NVC.
   • DV Applicants: Be aware that visas are numerically limited and must be issued by September 30 of the program year. There is no guarantee that a visa will still be available on the date of your rescheduled interview.
   • Please carefully consult the Visa Bulletin before you request to reschedule your interview.
3. Registration Requirement:
   • You need to register your original NVC/KCC appointment online (see Step 1) before you can reschedule it.
   • Rescheduling is only possible on a date after your assigned appointment.

Security screening procedures

All visitors to the U.S. Embassy in Argentina must follow certain security procedures. Please DO NOT bring a cell phone or electronic device with you to the U.S. Embassy. Any visitor who declines to be screened by U.S. Embassy security personnel will be unable to enter the embassy. To avoid delaying your entry and that of those in line behind you, please bring only what is required for your interview.

Accompanying persons

Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview. Only the following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:

• Interpreter: Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English or Spanish well enough to participate in an interview.
• Special Needs Visitors: Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child.

Immigrant visa fees.

If you have not paid all required fees to either the National Visa Center or via the appointment website, please be prepared to pay these fees on the day of your interview. All fees may be paid in either U.S. dollars or the Argentine Pesos equivalent; a combination of currencies may not be used. We accept cash and international credit cards only. Please note that if you are found ineligible to receive a visa, the application fee cannot be refunded. A complete list of fees can be found on travel.state.gov.

Do not make travel plans outside of Argentina.

If your visa is approved, we will keep your passport at the embassy while we prepare your immigration packet and print a visa for your passport. We will return your passport to you later via courier services only (see Step 1). If you must travel within Argentina while your passport is still with us, please make sure you have a valid picture ID other than your passport.

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After Your Visa Interview

A consular officer can decide on a visa application only after reviewing the formal application and interviewing the applicant. There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa. Do not sell your house, car, or property, resign from your job or make non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements until you have received your immigrant visa.

If more information is needed

Sometimes a consular officer is unable to decide on a visa application because he/she needs to review additional documents, or the case requires further administrative processing. When additional documents are requested, the consular officer will give you a refusal letter that asks you to submit additional documents. The letter will include instructions on how to send those documents to the embassy. Administrative processing takes additional time after the interview. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days. However, the timing varies based on the circumstances of each case. Before inquiring about the status of administrative processing, please wait at least 60 days after your interview.

What happens after visa approval.

Passport, Visa, and Sealed Immigrant Packet – We will place your immigrant visa on a page in your passport. Please review your visa to make sure there are no spelling errors. We will also give you a sealed envelope containing documents that you must give to U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States for the first time. Do not open this envelope. You must carry it with you. Do not put it in your checked luggage. If you receive X-rays during your medical examination, carry those with you and give them to the U.S. immigration authorities, if required.

USCIS Immigrant Fee – All individuals who are issued immigrant visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to traveling to the United States. This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card. The only people exempt from paying this fee are: children entering the United States under the Hague Process, returning residents, and people traveling on a fiancé (e) (K) visa.

When You Should Travel – You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your visa, which is usually six (6) months from the date of printing. Your visa cannot be extended, and all fees are nonrefundable. The principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as other family members with visas. Unless they are eligible for benefits under the Child Status Protection Act, children who are issued a visa before turning 21 years of age must enter the United States before their 21st birthday to avoid losing their immigrant status.

Getting a Green Card – Your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the address in the United States that you write in your visa application form. This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States. If you plan to travel outside the U.S. before your green card arrives: Please consult USCIS’s and CBP’s websites for rules about what documents you need to re-enter the country. We also recommend you check with the airline to ensure you follow their rules. Once your card is issued, you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you will lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.

Children’s Issues – In the United States, children are required to have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school. We recommend that you bring your child’s complete vaccination records with you to the United States. If your child is adopted, you have full custody because of a divorce, or you share custody with another parent, you should bring a copy of all applicable adoption or custodial papers from the authoritative court in your home country. You will need these papers (translated into English) for issues such as school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship.

Information for New Immigrants – Please visit the USCIS web page for helpful information on moving to the United States. You can read their publication “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants” online.

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Diversity Visa Applicants - Additional Information

If you are interviewing for a Diversity Visa (DV), all the above instructions apply to you. Please schedule and attend a medical examination prior to your visa interview; enroll in the required courier service; and gather the required documents.

Below are additional instructions that apply only to DV applicants.

Bring to your interview.

In addition to the documents listed on the Pre-Interview Checklist in this package, DV applicants should also bring the following items to your visa interview:

• Appointment information printed from the “Entrant Status Check” on the E-DV website, as well as a copy of the Yatri appointment registration confirmation.
• Documents showing that you have either a qualifying high school education OR two (2) years of qualifying work experience in the five (5) years immediately prior to application (for the principal applicant only; more information is available via Travel.state.gov).
• Payment of the Diversity Visa Application Fee for each visa applicant. Fee is paid at the Consular Section at the time of the interview.

Review your DV Lottery entry.

Prior to your visa interview, we recommend that you review the data on your initial E-DV entry. On your initial E-DV application, you must have correctly entered your marital status. If you are legally married you must have listed your spouse, even if you are currently separated from him/her (unless your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident).

Additionally, you must have listed ALL your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years old. This includes your natural children, your spouse’s children, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws of your country.

Failure to have listed an existing spouse or children at the time of your entry in the Diversity Visa lottery will result in the denial of your visa and visas for your family. Any fees paid to the U.S. government in support of your visa application(s) are nonrefundable. If you failed to include a child who had already been born, or a spouse to whom you were married when you entered the lottery, you should not proceed with the visa application. You can review the eligibility requirements via travel.state.gov.

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