On April 8, 2021, Secretary of State Blinken determined that the entry into the United States of an individual traveling on an immigrant visa in any classification is in the national interest for purposes of approving an exception under the geographic COVID proclamations. In addition, the Secretary has determined that travel on a fiancé(e) visa (K-1, K-2, K-3, or K-4) is in the national interest for purposes of exceptions under the same proclamations.
If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, or believe you may have been exposed to the coronavirus, you are strongly encouraged to postpone your appointment by at least 14 days. There is no fee to change an appointment and visa application fees are valid for one year in the country where the fee was paid.
All immigrant and fiancé(e) visa holders are still subject to DHS admissibility determinations and to the Centers for Disease Control’s order for mandatory COVID-19 testing prior to entry into the United States. More information on COVID-19 and travel to the United States can be found here: https://ch.usembassy.gov/covid-19-info
Immigrant visas to the United States are processed for citizens and residents of Switzerland at the U.S. Embassy in Bern.
To apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen seeking to immigrate generally must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident immediate relative(s), or prospective U.S. employer, and have an approved petition before applying for an immigrant visa. The sponsor begins the process by filing a petition on the foreign citizen’s behalf with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You may wish to review our Directory of Visa Categories on usvisas.state.gov to learn about the different types of immigrant visas to the United States, including our Diversity Visa Program. Then, follow the steps on the Immigrant Visa Process, or on the Diversity Visa Process, on usvisas.state.gov to begin applying for an immigrant visa.
Once USCIS has approved your petition and you have completed pre-processing with the National Visa Center (NVC), or if you have been selected in the Diversity Visa Lottery and completed processing with the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC), review the instructions given to you by the NVC or the KCC, along with the information presented on this website, for further guidance and instructions.
