<Li> Immigrant visa availability . When the immigrant petition is approved by the USCIS, the petition is forwarded to the NVC for visa allocation . Currently this step centers around the priority date concept . <Ul> <Li> Priority date--the visa becomes available when the applicant's priority date is earlier than the cutoff date announced on the DOS's Visa Bulletin or when the immigrant visa category the applicant is assigned to is announced as "current". A "current" designation indicates that visa numbers are available to all applicants in the corresponding immigrant category . Petitions with priority dates earlier than the cutoff date are expected to have visas available, therefore those applicants are eligible for final adjudication . When the NVC determines that a visa number could be available for a particular immigrant petition, a visa is tentatively allocated to the applicant . The NVC will send a letter stating that the applicant may be eligible for adjustment of status, and requiring the applicant to choose either to adjust status with the USCIS directly, or apply at the U.S. consulate abroad . This waiting process determines when the applicant can expect the immigration case to be adjudicated . Due to quotas imposed on EB visa categories, there are more approved immigrant petitions than visas available under INA . High demand for visas has created a backlog of approved but unadjudicated cases . In addition, due to processing inefficiencies throughout DOS and USCIS systems, not all visas available under the quota system in a given year were allocated to applicants by the DOS . Since there is no quota carry - over to the next fiscal year, for several years visa quotas have not been fully used, thus adding to the visa backlog . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Ul> <Li> Priority date--the visa becomes available when the applicant's priority date is earlier than the cutoff date announced on the DOS's Visa Bulletin or when the immigrant visa category the applicant is assigned to is announced as "current". A "current" designation indicates that visa numbers are available to all applicants in the corresponding immigrant category . Petitions with priority dates earlier than the cutoff date are expected to have visas available, therefore those applicants are eligible for final adjudication . When the NVC determines that a visa number could be available for a particular immigrant petition, a visa is tentatively allocated to the applicant . The NVC will send a letter stating that the applicant may be eligible for adjustment of status, and requiring the applicant to choose either to adjust status with the USCIS directly, or apply at the U.S. consulate abroad . This waiting process determines when the applicant can expect the immigration case to be adjudicated . Due to quotas imposed on EB visa categories, there are more approved immigrant petitions than visas available under INA . High demand for visas has created a backlog of approved but unadjudicated cases . In addition, due to processing inefficiencies throughout DOS and USCIS systems, not all visas available under the quota system in a given year were allocated to applicants by the DOS . Since there is no quota carry - over to the next fiscal year, for several years visa quotas have not been fully used, thus adding to the visa backlog . </Li> </Ul> <Li> Priority date--the visa becomes available when the applicant's priority date is earlier than the cutoff date announced on the DOS's Visa Bulletin or when the immigrant visa category the applicant is assigned to is announced as "current". A "current" designation indicates that visa numbers are available to all applicants in the corresponding immigrant category . Petitions with priority dates earlier than the cutoff date are expected to have visas available, therefore those applicants are eligible for final adjudication . When the NVC determines that a visa number could be available for a particular immigrant petition, a visa is tentatively allocated to the applicant . The NVC will send a letter stating that the applicant may be eligible for adjustment of status, and requiring the applicant to choose either to adjust status with the USCIS directly, or apply at the U.S. consulate abroad . This waiting process determines when the applicant can expect the immigration case to be adjudicated . Due to quotas imposed on EB visa categories, there are more approved immigrant petitions than visas available under INA . High demand for visas has created a backlog of approved but unadjudicated cases . In addition, due to processing inefficiencies throughout DOS and USCIS systems, not all visas available under the quota system in a given year were allocated to applicants by the DOS . Since there is no quota carry - over to the next fiscal year, for several years visa quotas have not been fully used, thus adding to the visa backlog . </Li> <Li> Immigrant visa adjudication . When the NVC determines that an immigrant visa is available, the case can be adjudicated . If the alien is already in the USA, that alien has a choice to finalize the green card process via adjustment of status in the USA, or via consular processing abroad . If the alien is outside of the USA he / she can only apply for an immigrant visa at the U.S. consulate . The USCIS does not allow an alien to pursue consular processing and AOS simultaneously . Prior to filing the form I - 485 (Adjustment of Status) it is required that the applicant have a medical examination performed by a USCIS - approved civil surgeon . The examination includes a blood test and specific immunizations, unless the applicant provides proof that the required immunizations were already done elsewhere . The civil surgeon hands the applicant a sealed envelope containing a completed form I - 693, which must be included unopened with the I - 485 application . (The cited reference also states that the February 25, 2010 edition of the Form I - 693 reflects that an individual should no longer be tested for HIV infection .) <Ul> <Li> Adjustment of status (AOS)--after the alien has a labor certification and has been provisionally allocated a visa number, the final step is to change his or her status to permanent residency . Adjustment of status is submitted to USCIS via form I - 485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status . If an immigrant visa number is available, the USCIS will allow "concurrent filing": it will accept forms I - 140 and I - 485 submitted in the same package or will accept form I - 485 even before the approval of the I - 140 . </Li> <Li> Consular processing--this is an alternative to AOS, but still requires the immigrant visa petition to be completed . In the past (pre-2005), this process was somewhat faster than applying for AOS, so was sometimes used to circumvent long backlogs (of over two years in some cases). However, due to recent efficiency improvements by the USCIS, it is not clear whether applying via consular processing is faster than the regular AOS process . Consular processing is also thought to be riskier since there is no or very little recourse for appeal if the officer denies the application . </Li> </Ul> </Li>

What type of visa is the green card