Please follow the steps below before your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, Laos.

Important points:

• Failure to bring in necessary documentation may result in your visa being refused.
  
  
• Bring original and copies of all civil documents. Your visa will be refused if you don’t bring the original and you need to provide a copy to get the original document back.
  
  
•  Do your medical exam early. It takes about two weeks to get the results back. If you don’t have you medical exam at the time of interview your visa will be refused.
  
  
• We do not require translations of documents in Lao language. After you receive an interview appointment letter from NVC, you must take the following steps before your immigrant visa interview date at the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, Laos.

Step 1: Schedule a medical exam in Vientiane

As soon as you receive your appointment date, you must schedule a medical exam at Alliance International Medical Centre in Vientiane. Click the “Medical Exam Instructions” for more information. It takes two weeks or more to get the results of your medical exam. If you don’t have the results at your interview your visa will be refused.
 

Medical Exam Instructions >>

Step 2: Complete your pre-interview checklist

Bring all required original documents to your interview. Please print the checklist below and bring it to your interview along with the listed documents.

Pre-Interview Checklist >>

Step 3: 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 one of the doctors listed below before your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy. Medical examination results from other physicians will not be accepted. Most medical exam results will be returned to the applicants within 14 days. However, medical result availability depends on the applicant’s medical history and may take longer.

As soon as you receive your appointment date, schedule a medical exam at Alliance International Medical Centre in Vientiane. If you don’t have the results at your interview your visa will be refused.

Approved Physicians:

Alliance International Medical Centre
Souphanouvong Road, Wattayyaithong Village,
Sikhottabong District, Vientiane Capital
Tel: 856-21-513095
Email: info@aimclao.com

Items to bring to your medical examination

The doctor will need the following items to complete the medical exam forms:

• Your visa interview letter from NVC,
• Your passport,
• Four (4) recently taken passport-sized color photographs,
• A copy of your immunization records, if available, and
• DS-260 confirmation page
  

Any medical examination fees, including x-ray and blood test fees, must be paid directly to the examining physician. Vaccinations start from approximately LAK 223,000 to 3,718,000 ($27 - 440 USD) depending on age for applicants over 15 years of age, but increase based on age and medical history.

During the medical exam

The medical examination will include a medical history review, physical examination, and chest X-ray, gonorrhea test, and blood tests (for applicants 15 years of age or older). The United States also requires tuberculosis (TB) testing for all applicants two years of age and older. Please be prepared to discuss your medical history, medications you are taking, and current treatments you are undergoing. More information on general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available here.

U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of a visa. Current immigrant visa vaccination requirements are available here. You can also read Frequently Asked Questions about our medical examination requirements online.

After the medical exam

In most cases, the doctor will provide you with exam results in a sealed envelope. DO NOT OPEN THIS ENVELOPE. Instead, bring it to your visa interview.

Any x-rays taken will be given to you. 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 months old when you enter the United States as an immigrant.

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Pre-Interview checklist

Please use the list below to determine the items that the applicant must bring to the immigrant visa interview. Any documents that are not in either English or Lao must be accompanied by a certified English translation:

• A copy of you NVC interview letter (does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé(e), adoptive, or asylee/refugee applicants).

• Unexpired passport valid for six months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States and a photocopy of the biographic page (where your name and photo are located).

• Two (2) recent color passport-size photographs of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm, or 2 inch x 2 inch).  Please review our online photo requirements. Photos older than 6 months will not be accepted.

• Confirmation page from the Form DS-260 Application for an Immigrant Visa you submitted online at ceac.state.gov/iv.
  
  
• Your Original Household Registration Book (Family book) with a photocopy of all pages. Do not create a new Household Registration Book only for the visa interview. If you have a new Household registration book bring in the previous cancelled book or a photocopy of it. You must bring your original Household Registration Book
  
  
• Your original birth certificate and a photocopy. For IR5 (parents) and F4 (Sibling) cases, you must also provide the original birth certificate of the petitioner in addition to your original birth certificate. Failure to bring an original document will result in your visa being denied. Original documents are not usually contained in your file from the United States—always hands carry them with you to your interview. Note that all Lao birth certificates issued after 2008 must be issued by the district office. Village birth records are not acceptable. a photocopy.
  
  
• Medical examination results in a sealed envelope (if the physician gives you these results). You must schedule your medical examination at least three (3) weeks before your interview. If you do not have your medical examination results by the time of your interview, your application may be denied.
  
  
• Evidence of Name Change if applicable for you.
  
  
• For IR5 and F4 case you must also provide proof of name change if applicable for the petitioner.
  
  
• Original birth certificates for all children and the spouse of the principal applicant (even if he or she will not accompany) and a photocopy of each original.
  
  
• Valid police record from every country you have lived in for more than 6 months after the age of 16 years old.
  
  
• Identification card (ID)

Applicants should bring original documents, and their photocopies, to the interview. The Consular Section needs to see all original documents even if the petitioner submitted original documents to USCIS in the United States. If you bring copies of your original documents we will return the original documents after the interview. We will not return the original documents if you do not have photocopies. We do not require translation for any documents written in Lao.

Applicants who fall into any category below should bring these additional documents:

For family-based visa applications.

• The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support 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 the transcript is unavailable. If you want to combine your personal income with the income of your spouse or other household member you need to submit a form I-864A for each household member along with proof of their legal status in the United States (copy of naturalization certificate, LPR Card, U.S. passport, or Birth Certificate.
  
  
  • Form I-864 is necessary to establish the petitioner’s capacity to be financially responsible for a beneficiary. Your petition may be denied based on a petitioner’s limited financial capacity or if you submit the wrong financial forms. To learn more about the income requirements please visit this site.
  • If you determine that the petitioner of an immigrant visa application does not have enough income to sponsor an immigrant beneficiary, please review this site. A petitioner may ask a “Joint Sponsor” to financially support an immigrant petition in order to meet income requirements. Joint Sponsors who do not live in the same household as the petitioner must submit a separate I-864 form.
  • A Joint Sponsor may be a member of the petitioner’s household. In this case, the Joint Sponsor may submit a form I-864A and include proof of their legal status in the United States (copy of naturalization certificate, LPR Card, U.S. passport, or Birth Certificate).
  • All Joint Sponsors will need to provide copies of their IRS transcript and proof of legal status in the United States (such as a copy of their U.S. passport, Legal Permanent Resident card, or Naturalization Certificate).
• Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and visac  applicant (such as old photographs or anything that helps to show that you have the relationship to your petitioner that you are claiming).

If you are married:  Your original marriage certificate, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you were previously married:  Your original divorce or spouse’s death certificate, English translation, and a photocopy.

For IR1 and cases you need to bring original proof termination of prior marriages for the petitioner.

If you are older than 16 years of age:  The original police certificate from your country of current residence and countries of previous residence.If these three items are all true, you must bring a more recent police certificate to the interview:

1. You are older than 16 years of age;
2. You obtained a police certificate and submitted it to NVC more than one year ago; and
3. You still live in the country that issued the police certificate.

If you have ever been convicted of a crime: Court and criminal records, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you have served in any country’s military: Military records, English translation, and a photocopy. (Not available in Lao)

If you are adopted:  Adoption papers or custody documents, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you are the petitioner’s stepchild: The original marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent, and a photocopy along with divorce records for any previous marriages of either parent. If the biological parent married to the petitioner has legal status in the U.S. you should include a photocopy of the proof of their status (Legal Permanent Resident card, Naturalization Certificate, work authorization, etc.).
 

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Interview Guidelines

Rescheduling or cancelling your interview

There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment, so please attempt 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 should 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 decide to reschedule your interview.

If you are unable to attend your appointment, please contact the Immigrant Visa Unit by email at CONSLAO@state.gov as soon as possible.

Security screening procedures

All visitors to the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane must follow certain security procedures. Any visitor who declines to be screened by U.S. Embassy security personnel will be unable to enter the embassy. You are not allowed to enter the U.S. Embassy while carrying any battery-operated or electronic devices, large bags or luggage, or food and liquid items. To avoid delaying your entry and that of those in line behind you, please bring only what is required for your interview.

Accompanying persons

The following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:

• Interpreter: Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English, Lao, or Hmong 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.

Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview.

Immigrant visa fees

If you have not paid all required fees to the National Visa Center, 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 Lao Kip equivalent. We accept cash 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 here.

Do not make travel plans outside of Laos

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. At the time of visa approval we will let you know when the visa will be ready for pick-up and issue you a paper receipt. If you have to travel within Laos 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 make a decision 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 make a decision 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 when to bring 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.

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 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 are in compliance with 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 as a result 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 of 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
  
  
• Documents showing that you have either a qualifying high school education OR have two years of qualifying work experience in the last five years immediately prior to application (for the principal applicant only; more information is available online).
  
  
• Payment in cash of the $330 Diversity Visa Application Fee
   

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 of 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 online.

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